July is Justice Month – Day 1
Romans 12:18-20 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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We see on the street corners of our nation the phrase, “NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE”. But what is justice? What is the need of the sign holder? What is their definition of justice? Is the statement saying if I do not provide the venue for a particular grievance, peace is not possible?
Justice a principle in which people receive what they deserve. This begs the question of what is deserved. Is it moral correctness by a change in my personal ethics, morals, laws, religion, equity, equality or fairness? Yes, I agree with the sign carrier, but I believe the only justice is God’s justice. Justice as God sees it. God is merciful. God sees beyond the outside and sees into the hearts and minds and will be the ultimate judge. But as for me, I will live as much as possible to live in peace with everyone because the standard of justice is set by God.
Just Larry
July is justice month Day 2
Ecclesiastes 3:17 I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.”
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One young student at the top of her lungs and with a finger pointed toward the nose of a fellow student shouted, “You can’t judge me”. After a moment of reflection and thought, the accused simply said, “then don’t judge me for judging you!” We all judge. I judge whether one piece of pie is bigger than the next and then judge which would be better for me at that moment. The judgement would be for the waistline or the taste buds. All judgement is personal. As Christians, we should stand up against injustice and love others with our words and actions. We can have peace knowing that God will prevail and evil will be dealt with. And until that time, I will take the small piece.
Just Larry
July is justice month Day 3
Hebrews 10:30
For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
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There have been times when someone I love and respect simply lashes out with a hurtful comment or condemnation. I am bruised and wounded. How am I to understand the innermost feelings and pains of others? I cannot come to an understanding of someone lashing out because of some perceived slight. Justice is about mutual agreement. An agreement between two people which have lived in two different lives. I am not making excuses for bad behavior. I have no position of authority to pass judgement. I do not set the rules for you. I hope you do not have a set of rules for me that is different than those who you hold yourself to. Please do not demand of me that which you do not exhibit and live yourself. Show to me they are better than mine. That is justice. Until that day, I must follow the expressed expectations in the will of God. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
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The closer the relationship and the stronger the offense, the more we MUST walk in forgiveness, compassion, and love. When we resist the urge to pay back evil for evil, God rewards with blessings. Going the extra mile in Godly responses brings life instead of death. Responding the way Jesus would promises blessings on you that will pour over on your household, relationships, marriage, in your work life, and in your church.
Couching our lives to be more Christ-like is Justice. Reacting to insults or offenses is a critical place to begin walking out our faith. Imagine if your reputation at home, work, or your neighborhood was that of understanding, love, kindness, compassion, and humility. People would trust and respect you more. These characteristics open doors to all kinds of blessings in your life.
July is justice month day 5
Luke 18:1-8 NIV Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time, he refused. But finally, he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
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There are three types of justice in the Bible. There is justice when we conform to God’s moral standard. There is transfer justice in living out a righteous relationship with God and relaying this relationship to others. Then there is justice of distribution. This last form of justice is what most in our culture think of when they hear the word “justice”.
Justice of distribution is rendering judgement, righting wrongs, and making sure the guilty are punished. This type of justice is reserved for some authority such as God, parents in the home, elders in the church, teachers in the school, and civil authorities of the state. All three are based on established standards. These standards may be called laws, or regulations, or systems, or mandates. There is no justice in this area without accepted traditional systems. It has little to do with personal preference, or as in the case of this scripture, the unjust judge’s lack of fear or regard to the standard set by God. It was a judge that did not seek justice.
If you judge, if you desire justice, if you must make a judgement call, do it with the standard of God and not personal whim.
July is justice month day 6
Matthew 5:38-42 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
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Revenge is an attitude the seems to permeate our culture. When we feel put upon, or canceled we quickly fall into response mode. We want to react in to wreak vengeance upon the offender. A simple sarcastic comment slips out of our lips or runs through our minds. Even occasionally even the most devout Christian has visions of due justice. We want people to get exactly what they deserve.
God tells us we are not to seek revenge but submit these feelings to God and respond His way. Jesus challenges His people to choose a different behavior when we are confronted with anger and want revenge. I must resist and convert my feelings of anger into attitudes of positive action.
Matthew 1:19,20 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded putting her away privily. When he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
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In the King James Version of the Bible Matthew calls Joseph, the husband of Jesus’ mother Mary, a “just” man. When he learns of her pregnancy, he wants to protect Mary’s reputation and “dismiss her quietly.” Then, as a more authentic expression of his justness, Joseph takes to heart the words of the angel in dream and realizes that Mary has the Lord’s blessing, and he stays with her.
The culture in which Joseph found himself demanded justice of banishment or stoning. Even if Mary was not accused of adultery, it would mean the equivalent of a divorce. Both would involve the religious leadership of the town. Joseph chose a third course: to listen to God, a voice of compassion and love. Was Joseph still just? Was Joseph still righteous? As the son he would help raise, nurture, and help educate a step-son, Joseph made the choice to love. The greatest attribute of justice.
July is justice month, day 8
Genesis 18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
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Webster was right when he said, “Justice, sir, is the great interest of people on earth.” Without justice there is no hope or expectation of continuance for our culture. A just society must first an acknowledge a moral law higher than itself: a supreme lawgiver to whom even the most powerful are held into account. America’s founders writing the Declaration of Independence, purposefully and in the very first sentence acknowledged the existence and dependence upon something greater than themselves. Our nation is founded on a supreme, objective basis of justice and righteousness. Justice is not a whim of whomever is in political power at any given election cycle. Justice is based upon the supreme lawgiver. To substitute man made morality or even personal ethics as a new standard is just folly. Thank God by doing righteousness and justice established and set before us as His intent.
July is justice month day 9
Numbers 15:14,15 And if a stranger is sojourning with you, or anyone is living permanently among you, and he wishes to offer a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord, he shall do as you do. For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the Lord.
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Just societies are founded and kept by the rule of law. Further this established law must, if it is just, applied equally to everyone. It is of little consequence if the person is a foreigner, same law. It does not matter if a person is citizen or not, same law. Those who create the rules and regulations for the well being of the people must adhere to that same law. Politicians who adapt or bend the law to produce a preferred outcome is simply wrong. They are not free to set one interest above another anymore than you can choose which law to obey or not to. Equality or respect for the rule of law is and always be, one of the foundation stones of our culture. Justice before God is equality.
Genesis 1:27 – So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
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My name is Larry, I am created in God’s own image. I came from Him and someday I will be going back to him. My worth is not dependent upon your opinion. My worth is not dictated by societal norms. My life is much more that what you may see of me or even your judgement of me. Who I am is much more than the cultural group to which you think I belong. Do not segregate me because of some outside, physical attribute. I refuse to be cancelled. Just societies are built on the acknowledgement and acceptance of the truth of all human beings are bearers of God’s image. They all have equal dignity, incalculable worth with rights that cannot be taken at the whim of any other. It was C.S.Lewis who wrote, “There are no ordinary people, you have never talked to a mere mortal.” The essence of our dignity is not man made. We are not earthy people experiencing spiritual things, but spiritual people experiencing earthly things.
Justice month day 11
Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.
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The justice of God is insulted when there is abuse of power. When those who govern refuse to be governed is simply corruption. A culture built on the image of God, a society that prints its money with “in God we trust”, a country based on equality must not wink at corruption. If our country is to survive, a renewal of vision his required. If our culture is to be shaped and formed by God, it must imitate the living God in “Love’s righteousness and hates wickedness Psalm 45:7. It renew again the vision of a society which “is not partial, and takes no bribes” Deuteronomy 10:7. Justice is an act of homage and worship to a living God.
Justice month day 12
James 1:17-19 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will, He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
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You are a special gift. A gift from God. Your unique identity or person hood as created by God is simply without equal. The message of practical James sees no jump in logic from your gifted unique identity to the accompanied responsibility to be just to those around you. James is calling a process in justice. Listen carefully, restrained in our response, and restriction of judgement. He is calling for due process to all that are accused of not living up to the image of God. In the world we live we have a responsibility not to pass judgement without due process. The right to a timely trial, to an unbiased judge and a jury of our peers, a presumption of innocence, presentation of corroborating evidence, to know the charges or accusations, to confront witnesses, legal counsel, and the right to defend your self are all part of this due process. Justice is allowing the process to work. I cannot and will not make any judgement based on emotion, prejudice, innuendo, gossip, or without evidence. That is justice. Justice dictated by my faith and by God.
Justice Month day 13
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Not every wrong done to you will be made right on this side of heaven. If there are unjust people, there will be injustice. Examples of past injustice are but signposts. On my path I must notice each sign to make sure I do not go the wrong way. Just because someone went the wrong direction on the freeway, am I to tear down the ‘ONE WAY’ sign because it offends me? I cannot go back and fix things that were perceived injustices. I am not advocating for just letting go and allow injustice in my life. What I am calling for is not letting the past examples of injustice steal my pursuance of justice my present. I cannot and will not blame every German resident for past injustices done during the second world war. I will wait and entrust the final judgement to God. Tearing down a past injustice, trying to eliminate any remembrance, pulling down a statue, or simply ignoring the past is folly. I cannot make up for past injustice by my judgement of the now, any more than I can force God’s future judgement into the present.
Justice month day 14
Isaiah 51:4-5 Pay attention to Me, O My people, And give ear to Me, O My nation; For a law will go forth from Me, And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples. My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly.
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Ultimately all justice must come from a single source. I believe in a creator which has woven justice into our being. Our very soul knows what is fair, what is true justice. When a loss shakes our very soul, there is reaction. Some would cry out to God and ask “why”. Others would rage against God. It is in our very nature to respond to perceived injustice.
Even if a person denies the existence of God, there is still an acknowledgement of the need for justice. The difference is that without God’s justice, there is only the multitude of man-made, man-inspired, man-conceived images of justice. Justice that is no longer held fast by a single standard is the opposite of equality. Without God as our standard of justice, there is no standard at all. Laws, rules, codes, and actions become changeable, arbitrary, beholding to those who are currently in charge. Justice redefined. In reality, no justice at all.
Amos 5:24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
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Yes! Let it happen! Let justice come. I long to see our broken, divided, angry, critical, and hurting world healed by God’s perfection. Let true justice roll over me in great billows. I long to live in a world where every wrong is ruled upon in perfect justice. Oh, I pray for that day.
But it is not happening. There seems to be a great dam holding back true justice. All I see around me is factions, groups, and sectors all divided in celebration of their victimhood. They shout to all that would hear that their difficulty is because of some other class, group, faction or sector.
God wants to pour out his justice, but the simple misdiagnoses of the cause of injustice is wrong. Justice is not dependent or caused by one pigment oppressing another or my sexual orientation being more correct or just than others. Unjust and oppressive human systems, structures, institutions, laws, and norms are simply symptoms, not the disease. The cause of injustice is sin. It is a willful aversion toward God and His truths. Not my truth or your truth but HIS TRUTH. Society will never be just without God. Justice is being held back by the exclusion of a standard set by our creator. Break down the dam of injustice by looking toward the standard of justice. Then, look toward your own heart. Let it be transformed by the Gospel. Let the waters of justice roll over you like a river. If you would change our society, first look toward God and then proclaim his justice.
July is Justice Month Day 16
Romans 3:28-31 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
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Paul was a dedicated, energetic, almost driven keeper of the Law. For Paul, the law was kept by acts of the will: doing things. Further the law was a social construct of behavior: it was designed for his group, his ethnicity, his class. All his life he had been taught the exclusivity of the “People of God”, the “God of the Jews”.
Then he encountered Jesus. That encounter changed everything. No longer was his fixation on class, race, gender, or lifestyle. No longer were they a part of his life. He saw through the eyes of God and saw the unity of faith. He now saw the law and justice as divine gifts, bestowed upon everyone. No longer was anyone defined by the group to which society was placing upon them. Sure, the law was kept. But it was kept by faith in the perfect vision of God’s image of all people. True justice.
July is Justice Month Day 17
Micah 6:7-8 — Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
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Micah was a prophet from the Old Testament. Here is an instance of his boldness, courage, and impartiality. Here he strikes out at the ruling class of the land, and charges them with sins, and reproves for them, and denounces judgments on account of them; that abhor judgment, and pervert all equality.
It is a sad day when the very character of those charged with justice are not doing so. In our culture our elected who should well know and love justice. They should take delight and pleasure in the distribution of justice to all. It is terrifying to have judges see justice with a personal perspective and not in equality. Here in Micah, he was almost overwhelmed with the terribleness of it all. The powerful hated to do that which was right and just; and perverted all the rules and laws of justice and equity, clearing the guilty, and condemning the innocent.
What does the Lord require? Act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.
July is justice month – Day 18
Isaiah 51:4-5 “Pay attention to Me, O My people, And give ear to Me, O My nation; For a law will go forth from Me, And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples. “My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coast lands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly.
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If you haven’t discovered it yet, I believe all justice. Further, no matter the level of acceptance or measure of punishment, Justice is set by a single standard. That standard is God. I guess that would put me at odds with the current social environment. Those who would cry for social justice rejects the premise of a single standard. All I see in the current cultural revolution of “wokeness” is a rejection of one justice for all. There seems to be an obsession with control of the result, or the end justifies the means. Justice is seen as a bendable thing. Is it acceptable to burn down a building in the name of justice? Does the new norm permit the invasion of a public building if it is in the name of justice? The new social understanding of justice sees the world divided into groups. One group includes the oppressors and the other victims. There is no place outside of this separation. Every issue is shadowed by which group you are put into. There is no middle ground. There is no place for equality. There is no place for justice before God.
Oh, God, please, if there was ever a time and place for your justice it is now and right here. Lord until that time comes, I will wait.
July is justice month – Day 19
1 Timothy 1:8-11 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
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I disk like hospitals! The very nature of a place where a third of the people are trying to make the other two-thirds well. I am not against healing. But the idea of massing great numbers of people into a single area who have maladies, sickness, disease and mixing them in together just freaks me out. Hospitals are for six people. For those who are suffering, unwell, filled with pain, and suffering their own war with their own bodies. Yet there is a need for hospitals. There is a need for the concentration of expertise, technology, and knowledge. Hospitals are not for the healthy person but for the sick. Very few purposely go to the hospital for the fine food at the cafeteria or the comfortable chairs. Yes, hospitals are good, just like the law. Never-the-less, until I need either, I will thank for both.
July is justice month – Day 20
Matthew 25: 44-46 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
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Social justice is a concept that some use to describe the movement towards a socially just world. Social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality and involves a greater degree of economic egalitarianism through progressive taxation, income redistribution, or even property redistribution. This idea is based on the foundation of inalienable human rights enshrined in such documents as the Declaration of Independence. I firmly believe there is a need to feed the hungry, protect the poor, and spreading kindness to those who have little. The Old Testament commanded His people to care for society’s less fortunate. Jesus calls for care for the, “least of these.”
Christian care and love for the less fortunate is different from the contemporary, secular notion of social justice. Provision for the poor is an individual mandate and not a societal one. Today’s politicized notion of social justice replaces the individual with the government. And what happens is the free will of love and care becomes a resentment of taxes and theft. I am kind, caring, peaceful and patient with my fellow man. I give when prompted by the Very Spirit of God. It is my responsibility. Justice for the poor is a personal thing.
July is Justice month – Day 21
Matthew 25:28-30 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that has the ten talents: for to every one that has shall be given, and he shall be in abundance; but from him that has not, that even which he has shall be taken from him. And cast out the useless bondman into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
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I am wealthy beyond measure. I have more than 20 bucks in my wallet. I can go to Costco and not feel guilty buying a four pack of new tee shirts. God has blessed me with all I really need. I worked quite a few jobs in my career, each one provided the means to support my family. Wealth is not evil. Having more than my neighbor is not sinful. I give God all the credit for supplying my needs. I could not have reached the place I am without God in my life. What is supplied to me and mine are blessings.
What I have issue with is those who tell me I must have exploited someone to get where I am. I have issue with someone telling me, “you did not earn that” or that I must be a terrible person to live in the manner which I have become accustomed. Listen carefully, “I did not steal, oppress, misappropriate or subjugate anyone.” I simply used the talents God provided and produced more for my maker.
July is Justice Month – Day 22
Luke 16:10-13 He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore, if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous 1awealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
My belief includes a concept of stewardship. I am called do many things in the name of my God. One of them is to give to others. If I have a Christian heart for the unborn, I can support charities that promote the sanctity of life. If I have a Christian heart for the hungry, I can work in a food pantry distributing food. If I encounter someone who is broken down along the road, I can stop and see if I can provide assistance. If I am prompted to mow my neighbor’s lawn because she can’t physically do it, I can pull the lawnmower out. I listen to the voice of God, that little, small voice within me revealing my responsibilities. It is not the responsibility of the local government. It is not justice warriors standing on the steps of the capital holding signs for justice who dictate my love. It is not those people or the sum of all these people that dictate to me what I can do for my neighbor. I do because that is what God expects of me. It is not your picture of justice, or some politician. Lord give me a heart for those you want me to help.
July is Justice Month – Day 23
John 5:26-30 “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
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In the world today, I sense a tension between the implementation of Justice as man sees it and justice as demanded by a God. One a man-centered approach and the other a God-centered approach. The vision of the current man-centered justice is one of bringing a utopia through policies. To see government as the savior to all the world. They would legislate morality, through laws and regulations.
The God-centered approach sees Jesus as savior. Jesus bringing heaven to earth when He returns. At His return, Christ will restore all things and execute perfect justice. In the meantime, I will express God’s love and justice by showing kindness and mercy to those who are less fortunate. I will be the hands and feet of Jesus to my little world around me.
July is Justice Month – Day 24
James 2:1-4 My brothers and sisters, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and is dressed in bright clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the bright clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?
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I rail against injustice. I am hurt for anyone who is the victim of injustice. I am reminded of an illustration of a butcher weighing out meat on a scale with his thumb pushing gently on his side and the customer with her thumb pressing on the underside. Both looking intently at the scale’s arm which was determining cost of the purchase.
God does not require justice because he desires orderliness or even equality. God is not so petty or obsessive to try to equalize the scales. There are deeper issues at stake. Practical James presents a study on partiality. James speaks to a group of believers who have been judging the people in their gathering according to their social status. In the human heart, injustice is a sign of partiality, judgmentalism, and a lack of love. When we strive to be righteous by our own human measurements, we invariably forget God’s measurement: perfection. Anything less than perfection is, to God, a scale out of balance.
July is Justice Month – Day 25
James 3:1-2 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
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Look in the mirror. Take a long look and see beyond the external to the internal. Everyone has fallen short of the glorious ideal of God. Everyone suffers from a malady passed down since Adam and Eve: a nature that is flawed. We all make mistakes. Sometimes we are hot and sometimes cold. We do and say things we regret. There are times when we proclaim things that are completely crazy. Part of our nature occasionally causes us to be unjust, or for some, more often than not.
James is saying injustice permeates our lives. We judge unfairly and hold others to a different standard than we are willing to abide by ourselves. But there is a solution! The only way to truly escape injustice is to first accept that God is perfectly just and humans are inherently unjust, i.e., less than perfect, and the n to accept God’s righteousness (1 John 1:5–9)
July is justice month – day 27
Isaiah 9:7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
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Justice is a scary concept. I am not perfect. I am not even close to God’s perfection. I have fallen short of what God would have me to be. Sometimes I have ignored God’s intent for my life. I deserve justice. I earned by my own hand condemnation.
The term justice is used to refer to what is right or as it should be. The justice of God is one of the attributes of God and flows from His holiness. I simply do not measure up to God. But a price was paid. The debt I owe has been released. Is it still justice? You better believe it. By the sufferings of one many are made righteous.
July is justice month – day 28
John 14:6,7 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
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I have read of a condemnation of Christianity because of the seemingly exclusive nature of the faith. A judgement saying there is only one way simply not inclusionary. Words like private, discrimination, prejudice, bigotry are thrown like great spears at anyone who believes Jesus being the “Way, truth and life.” They shout, “You Christians are not tolerant of my feelings and beliefs.”
Jesus is not exclusive, He hung on a cross that anyone could come to the Father. Anyone is welcome regardless of color, class or influence. The concept may offend but I don’t understand why. The will of God is that no one be lost, that everyone finds forgiveness and love. That is justice for me and justice for you.
July is justice month – Day 29
Matthew 1:20-221 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” which means “God with us”.
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“Look”, “Up in the sky”, “It’s a bird”, “it’s a plane”, “no it’s Superman.” What a thought, what a concept! Who doesn’t want to believe that there is someone, some person, some entity who will come and save us from ourselves? Someone who believes in “truth, justice and the American way.” But Superman is just a figment of a cinematic imagination. There is a true super man, a true super God who is with us.
Jesus came – to save us from ourselves, our own willfulness and sin. His name is “God with us.” A God who wants, desires even craves to reach us and be with us to rescue us from the penalty of our own stupid rebellion. God longs to reach out a fill our hearts with Himself.
July is Justice Month – Day 30
John 5:21-23 – For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
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Jesus is totally just; there is no injustice in Him at all. Because of His perfection, Jesus can provide true justice. We look forward to the time when righteousness and justice will be the order of the day and injustice will be banished forever. Our concern is in the delivery system. We would like to either speed it up or slow it down.
God delivers justice in different ways. There are times of conviction and resulting repentance. Occasionally justice is served through routine personal and peaceful interaction. There are times when confrontation following normal church procedures result in a just solution. And sometimes justice will not be revealed until after our deaths, recognizing that God sees an eternal picture that we cannot comprehend while wrapped up in our temporal, earthly matters. But do know this: God will bring about justice. Maybe it won’t be as dramatic or as timely as our expectation. But in the end, God’s justice will most certainly be done.
July is Justice Month – Day 31
Isaiah 51:4-5 Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: Instruction will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations. My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.
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If you’re being honest with yourself, is there anything more satisfying than to have justice delivered to someone who has wronged you? It may have been a slighting comment, a verbal confrontation, a threatening gesture, or a physical assault, but ultimately, we inwardly beg for vengeance in the name of justice. Justice to God is conceived as something totally different and unique. God sees justice as method of reconciliation, a mode of righteousness, a pathway to my own salvation, and God interceding in the movement of nations. Justice is never seen as a solution to hurt, or pain. It does not include getting even for wrongs done. It is simply godly procedures to reach and teach us of the character of God. Justice is the light in the darkness.