Word: Justice

Series: The Word

Amos 5:24 ESV

Micah 6:8 ESV

God saw it was good (Genesis 1:10, 1:12, 1:14-18, 1:20-21, 1:24-26,  and Genesis 1:27-31)

Psalm 86:15 ESV

Romans 5:8 ESV

We often think of justice as being something we attain because we deserve it.

While earthly justice can be sought and attained by our reputation and merit, God’s justice is a completely different matter.

Amos 5:24 tells us, “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

Nobody appreciates that more than me!

See, while I don’t do it intentionally, I have the natural ability to mess things up.

My nickname growing up was “‘lil Debbie mess around.”

As a teenager I was told I’m a ‘free spirit’.

As a mother some thought I was far too lenient with my children. Others thought I was too strict. I strongly disagree with both, but I suppose that’s because I had a specific criteria and I stuck to it. In my mind, children thrive when given the ability to find and develop the creative side of their brain. Two of them majored in music, one was a math/science junkie, and the other thrives in psychology. When they were growing up I had rules about safety and respect for other people’s personal space. In other words, if my children weren’t doing something that could cause harm, I called it good. In that same manner, they needed to be aware their actions could harm someone else or their space. I taught them to respect others.

Justice at our house was pretty cut and dried.

I tend to think that God’s justice is cut and dried as well.

I learned a long time ago that what people often think about God’s justice is their notion of justice they’ve applied to God.

I came to believe that because I was challenged to rethink the justice of God.

See, Mid-Twentieth Century justice painted a picture of God as being all about God’s rules.

It goes much deeper than that.

“Biblical justice is not first of all a set of bullet points or a set of rules and guidelines. It is rooted in the very character of God and it is the outworking of that character, which is never less than just.” ( https://quarterly.gospelinlife.com/justice-in-the-bible/)

When we step back and look at the whole narrative of God in scripture and we consider the character and nature of God we can clearly see it is a love story between God and creation.

Micah 6:8 tells us what is good and what God requires.

“He has told you, O man, what is good;    and what does the Lord require of youbut to do justice, and to love kindness,    and to walk humbly with your God?”

We know from Genesis 1:10 that God created dry land, “And God saw that it was good.”

In Genesis 1:11-12 God created plants, seeds, all vegetation, and trees, “And God saw that it was good.”

In Genesis 1:14-18 God created lights in the sky for the earth, a greater light for day and a lesser light for night, “And God saw that it was good.“

In Genesis 1:20-21 God created sea and sky creatures, “And God saw that it was good.”

In Genesis 1:24-25 God created living creatures, and “And God saw that it was good.”

Finally in Genesis 1:26-31 God created man in His image and this time God saw, “it was very good.”

God created everything in His image in the nature and character of God, and it was good and very good.

God created out of love full of mercy and grace. God is faithful…ever so faithful.

Psalm 86:15 tells us,  “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

At the same time we know from Romans 5:8, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God is good.

God is not only loving, God is love.

God’s justice never fails.

While I love my children and I held them accountable for their actions, I can’t promise I was always just.

I wasn’t intentionally unjust, but I made mistakes (lots of mistakes).

The difference with God is that God IS just. Every time.

Spiritual Practice: Justice of God

When was the last time God was just with you?

In God, Deborah

acrazyjourney.com