Your Purpose 8--Mirror God’s Desire for Justice

Last week’s post Your Purpose—Awareness of God as a God of Justice made clear God’s unwavering desire and command for justice. The good news is that God is also a God of mercy.  He demands justice—and we are unable to meet that requirement in our unrighteousness. No matter how “good” we may think we are, we fall short of God’s standard of perfect holiness. Fortunately for us, Jesus justifies us—provides the payment, the penalty, for our sins so that God sees us as righteous:

·        Romans 1:17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

·        Romans 4:24-25 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

·        Romans 5:1 Peace and Hope--Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

·        Romans 3:21-26 Righteousness Through Faith--But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

·        2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

In response to this great mercy, this great gift of Jesus’ justification, “God requires justice to be evident in the lives of his people. Through justification, believers are granted the status of being righteous in his sight, and are called upon to live out that righteousness in their lives.” (Bible Gateway’s Dictionary of Bible Themes)

Jesus condemns the religious leaders of His day for neglecting “the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). We are to be people who think, speak, and act justly. We are to be mirrors of God’s desire for justice. Bringing God’s Kingdom here on earth. Today. And every day until Jesus comes again.

Reflect:

·        Reread the above verses from Romans and 2 Corinthians (even better, grab your Bible or Bible app and read them in context).

·        Spend time in worship and thanksgiving for Jesus’ work on your behalf in order that you might receive the mercy, and not the judgment, of God.

·        Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in becoming a person of “justice, mercy and faithfulness.”

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and leaders in a diversity of fields for over 30 years. She has also been EquipConnectServe Director at her 1,200 member church since 1999.  Contact Shirley.

Photo © Shirley Giles Davis, all rights reserved.