Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “STRANGERS in the World”
Week 4 of 7: “Use the Right Currency!”
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We live in a time where many are crying for justice.
Here’s a few observations I’ve noticed about justice. To have justice, one needs to agree on the standards and the consequence for breaking them. To have standards, someone has to set them. To have justice, one also needs to agree on how those standards should be applied and then how the consequences should be meted out.
Justice has been around for centuries, existing in some form in every society on earth. People cry against injustice and demand justice. Injustice comes when we perceive the standard was unfairly applied or the standard itself is perceived as unjust.
Our country is not exempt from desiring justice. We want those who do wrong to be brought to justice. We want laws that are fair to everyone. We see people in powerful positions “get off the hook” while an average citizen “gets the book thrown at them.”
So, where is justice?
God is the great equalizer. Peter puts it this way, “Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially…” (1 Peter 1:17) Literally this passage says, “Since you call on a Father who judges impartially (without favoritism) each one’s work…” (1 Peter 1:17)
God doesn’t look at culture, color, or country of origin. He simply looks at what a person does measured against the standard HE has set. That standard? Peter mentions it in verse 15-16: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
This takes care of the three things you need for justice: 1) A clear standard. 2) An impartial evaluation of one’s activities and 3) a judge who perfectly applies the law.
The world’s justice will always be flawed because it is formed and carried out by imperfect human beings. However, as a “Stranger” in the world, we can realize a perfect justice (although God’s justice is hard for some to accept as well.) Here’s what it looks like. The standard is clear. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
This standard doesn’t make exceptions because of color, creed or country of origin, we simply call on and follow the standard our heavenly Father has given.
When we break it? Justice would say, “For the wages of sin is death,…“The injustice of God is that he punished Jesus instead of us and gave us forgiveness as a gift. “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 6:23)”
With this injustice of grace from a just God, enjoy loving God and others today!
Prayer: Father, thank you for providing a clear standard for us to follow. We know you will judge us impartially based on our works of faith. In your mercy forgive us when we fail. Show grace where you have every right to punish. Amen.