In commemoration of Martin Luther King day yesterday, I thought it would be appropriate to visit some scripture passages on justice. Sometimes, as Christians we can forget that justice was at the core of Jesus’ message and His ministry, something near and dear to God’s heart and His plan for us.
God’s heart
“It is unthinkable to think that God would do wrong, that the almighty would pervert justice.” – Job 34:12, NIV
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” – Luke 4:18-19, NIV
His plan
“Praise be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the Lord your God for Israel and His desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them to maintain justice and righteousness.” – 2 Chronicles 9:8, NIV
“And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of trans-Euphrates – all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them.” – Ezra 7:25, NIV
Our role
“…Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” – Isaiah 1:16b-17, NIV
“He has shown you, O man, 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.” – Micah 6:8, NIV
“Woe to you, Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue, and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.” – Luke 11:42, NIV
His promise
“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 that He will see that they get justice and quickly.” – Luke 18:7-8a, NIV
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him.” – Isaiah 30:18, NIV
What are your thoughts? Why do you think we neglect justice? How can we, as Christians, share God's heart for the poor and oppressed? How can we share the GOOD news?
Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.- Martin Luther King, Jr.
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