I pray you’ll join us and learn new and exciting things too from His Word.
This Week We're Looking at Justice
Justice. In the last few months, we have heard that word thrown around social media, news outlets, and even during conversations with friends or family. There are a lot of opinions out there, but only one opinion that matters. God’s. What does God have to say about justice?
"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
To do justice is a commandment. It is a requirement, but it must be tempered with kindness and humility. Justice without either is not justice at all because it is devoid of what is good—kindness and humility. As you ponder and meditate on God’s justice, keep kindness and humility close to your heart.
"Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute." Psalm 82:3
Our justice should always be directed towards the weak, the fatherless, the afflicted, and the destitute. Who are they? Do we get to define what it means to be weak or afflicted?
Think of a time in your life when everything appeared to be okay on the outside, but on the inside, you felt weak. You were being afflicted in ways others could not understand. Did a beautiful soul sit by your side and listen to your pain? To know who is weak and afflicted, to know who is fatherless and destitute, we must sit and listen. Some are obvious, like orphans we see in the foster care system, but some are not. It could be a neighbor, a person at our church, or a group of people living in our own community. We cannot stand on the outside and make judgments of a people, or a race, or even a neighbor or a fellow church-goer without first listening and being willing to sit in their pain. We must not follow the ways of the Pharisees! We must follow Jesus. He understood our pain and our affliction because He stood in our midst. We must do the same and find ourselves among the afflicted. Not on the outside looking in. "To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice." Proverbs 21:3
Justice requires us to do. Sacrifices had become religious rituals and traditions for Israel, but they were not taking care of the most vulnerable in society. He will despise our religious traditions, rituals, and habits like He did Israel’s if we are missing two important pieces—justice and righteousness.
What good is it that we go to church on Christmas Eve and preach from the sidelines, but refuse to get our hands dirty by taking care of the most vulnerable? We must do. For example, we must be the voice of the voiceless, we must pay fair wages, and we must visit those in prison. We are called to always do what is just and right. God will define our path for justice if we are willing to involve ourselves in the messy lives of others. "But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." Amos 5:24
God desires for justice to abound, to roll down like the waters. He desires for His church to lead the way. By ourselves, we cannot solve all the injustices in the world. However, if the sum of God’s people did what was righteous and just, political answers would rarely be necessary because we, the church, would be in the midst of those crying out for justice.
"The LORD within her is righteous; He does no injustice; every morning He shows forth His justice; each dawn He does not fail, but the unjust knows no shame." Zephaniah 3:5
Thankfully, God never withholds justice. He takes care of His creation knowing that we are most vulnerable. We cannot live or survive without the warmth of the sun. But every morning, God is just and provides this world what it needs to keep on spinning and preserve humanity. Every day He shows us His love so every day we must show our love to those that need it the most.
A Royal Mission
SELF IDENTITY ROOTED IN CHRIST: It is important that girls grow to have a strong sense of identity and purpose rooted in Christ. “A Royal Mission” was created with that purpose in mind. Through striking illustrations and a captivating plot, girls learn about their God-given purpose, how much they are loved, and what it means to serve the King.
PERSONALIZATION: In this children’s book, the reader has the chance to become part of the story. She is asked to insert her name into the pages of the book, making her the protagonist. THE PLOT: Her journey begins in a perfect kingdom as a beautiful princess, but she is soon interrupted by a messenger from the King's court who tells her the King wishes to see her.
It is a book that captures little girls’ hearts and helps them see Jesus for who He is, the King of kings. This allegorical story will help budding princesses understand their role and purpose in God’s overarching plan. It is beloved by children and parents alike. It is also an ideal book to introduce girls to Jesus for the first time.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY: As a Hispanic woman, the author was intentional in illustrating characters that would reflect people of various racial backgrounds. Her desire is that girls, regardless of their background, could see themselves in the story and know how truly special they are to the King. ENGAGEMENT: The book also includes discussion questions at the end to help girls make the connection between this story and the Biblical record. The ABCs of God's Love Letter Scripture Memory Cards
The ABCs of God's Love Letter Bible Study is accompanied by a collection of 25 5 X 5 Scripture Memory Cards. We'll utilize this great tool to help us memorize a Scripture verse once a week that goes with the topic we're studying that week. Hiding God's Word in our heart is so important!
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What does Justice mean to you?
14 Comments
10/13/2020 09:15:37 am
We are so God-dependent for living out the justice our hearts long to see in this world. May we choose righteousness so that justice can flow!
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10/16/2020 10:06:06 pm
Well said, Michele! We need to choose righteousness over and over again!
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10/16/2020 10:07:19 pm
This is a great book for little girls, Jed. I love the message and the artwork!
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10/13/2020 09:17:59 am
My first several years in church, what they called "social justice" was dismissed as being "social gospel"--meeting people's material needs but neglecting their spiritual ones. I don't know how they missed that they could do both. God calls for justice all through the Bible, yet so many have been denied it. I'm sorry for the events of this year but thankful that attention has been drawn to this need.
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10/16/2020 10:08:49 pm
We for sure need to do both, Barbara. So many churches miss that—either one way, or the other. Follow Jesus' example!
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10/13/2020 12:24:55 pm
Beautiful thoughts on justice, Luisa. I especially loved this: "We cannot stand on the outside and make judgments of a people, or a race, or even a neighbor or a fellow church-goer without first listening and being willing to sit in their pain." So true. God does require us to get our hands dirty. To seek justice as a matter of empathy, not sympathy.
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10/16/2020 10:11:31 pm
That's such a great quote, Laurie! I love this too —> "God does require us to get our hands dirty. To seek justice as a matter of empathy, not sympathy." Too many Christians don't want to get their hands dirty.
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10/16/2020 10:12:49 pm
YES, Homer. LOVE mercy! "Too often we reverse them and end up loving justice and only 'doing' mercy" <— So true!
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10/14/2020 05:56:49 pm
God is teaching me so much about His heart for justice this year. Thank you for lending your voice.
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10/16/2020 10:14:02 pm
2020 is a year in which when we see less and less justice, but need it more and more.
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10/16/2020 08:51:30 pm
Micah 6:8 sums up God's desire for our actions and the attitude of our hearts. The vulnerable, the weak can be right in your own church congregation. Get to know those in your community and their needs and give of yourself with a humble heart.
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10/16/2020 10:21:48 pm
"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
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