One Word
This winter on The Daily Pattern we’re in a series called One Word. Each day we take one word – a feeling or circumstance – and bring a word from God to it. Let the Word of God speak to your life.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4) O Lord, I suffer grief and loss. You alone are my comfort. Amen.
“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”
Meditation
Justice by Julianna Shults
“It’s not fair!”
It’s a cry from children and adults alike when we discover injustices big and small. We didn’t get our turn. Someone else didn’t receive the consequences of their hurtful actions. Systems around us don’t benefit everyone equally. We look around our world and long for honesty, fairness, and righteousness.
Justice is now and not yet.
Throughout scripture God’s people are told to seek justice, do justice, love justice, even let justice roll down like waters. Alongside calls for justice we hear God’s instruction to look out for the marginalized in society and defend those who are most vulnerable. Loving kindness and humility are to be what set believers apart.
Justice should be now: So, why is it not yet here?
Bible verses on justice are often reprimands of God’s people. They went through the motions of worship—tithing, following parts of God’s Law—but failed to act with love, honesty and compassion. God’s people were more concerned about themselves, their appearances, other gods than God’s heart.
We are not always people who love justice. I justify keeping more for myself rather than caring for others in need. I treat people unfairly based on snap, surface judgements on their clothes, skin, language, or neighborhood. I turn away from others crying out for justice because it makes me nervous, sad, or scared. God’s command for justice in Scripture convicts us all.
Yet, God in his infinite mercy came down to die on our behalf so that through faith we can be made righteous and just. We receive grace we do not deserve. Isaiah 30:18 says, “’Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”
In response, we seek to be people of justice now, even in the not yet.
God’s immense love is beyond our comprehension. It compels us to walk through a broken world bringing God’s peace, humility and justice right here, right now. Even as we fail, the Holy Spirit works to give us a small glimpse of God’s righteous kingdom yet to come.
Someday, Jesus will return and make all things right. No more crying out for fairness, equity, and justice. It will be a perfectly experienced reality in the presence of our loving God. We wait with eager anticipation of that day. In the meantime, we live as forgiven sinners seeking justice in our lives and in the world in the now and not yet.
Lord, as we wait for you to make the world right again, help us seek justice now. Forgive us for our failures, and help us always remember to keep our eyes on you. Amen.
Prayer for Life as a Child of God
· For the Father to give me care and guidance.
· For forgiveness when I wander and want my own way.
· For the Father to keep me childlike in faith even as I age.
· For growth in faith, that I love and trust in God above all things.
· For strength to obey God.
· For the Father to heal my hurts.
· For assurance when I doubt.
Closing Prayer
O Lord, your ways are not our ways. Teach us your will, even when it appears backwards. We want to know you. We want what you want. Thy will be done, in Jesus’ name. Amen.