Tag: justice
Week 11–Day 1–Abiding Peace
Scripture reading for March 9: Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The Lord of hosts will do this.”
Isaiah spoke God’s Word to a people who were struggling to find peace. The super power of that day, Assyria, was threatening to take God’s people captive. The people and their leaders were not fully committed to follow God either. But God knew what they needed. He spoke to them about His own zeal to bring them a government of peace. He would give them a Child, His own Son. This Son would shoulder the burden of government with great wisdom. He would be called ‘Wonderful Counselor’, ‘Mighty God,’ ‘Everlasting Father’ and ‘Prince of Peace’! He would bring a lasting peace of which there would be no end through His righteous rule! God Himself, Lord over angel armies, would bring it to pass!
Our world is no different today. God’s people are scattered among those whose lives are disrupted by selfishness and sinful influences. As a responder to less than peaceful troubles, the best thing we can show those we are helping is a calm spirit and a personal peace that reassures the hurting. The only way to truly have this peace is to embrace the One spoken of by the prophet Isaiah 2700 years ago. We must come by faith to Jesus Christ, God’s Son Who came to earth as a child. This Son was given as a gift to the world of sinful men and women. He came proclaiming the kingdom of heaven and inviting those who would humble themselves to enter and find peace. The Lord of hosts (angelic warriors) would bring it to pass and has through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for fulfilling this ancient prophecy given to people lacking peace and justice. Thank You for Your zeal to love us by providing the ‘Prince of Peace’ to rule over us eternally. Help me to reflect His peace to those I am sent to help. Amen.
Jesus knows all about people!
Scripture reading for October 17th: John 2, Psalm 57, Proverbs 21
John 2: 18-25 “So the Jews said to Him, “What sign do You show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking about His body. When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the Word that Jesus had spoken. Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in His Name when they saw the signs that He was doing. But Jesus on His part did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”
As Jesus began His ministry, He attended the Passover Feast in Jerusalem as was required of all Jewish men in God’s law. As Jesus entered the temple, He found God’s House being used as a place of trade and money-making. Jesus cleansed the temple, driving the money-changers out and overturning their tables. He put those selling animals for sacrifice out. Jesus was zealous for His Father’s House and it’s intended purpose of prayer for all nations. The religious leaders asked Jesus for a sign that He held authority to put the money-changers out. Jesus answered them with a challenge, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” They did not understand that Jesus was talking about His own body and His coming resurrection. Jesus knew all men and what was truly in their hearts. He did not entrust Himself to them and needed no one to help Him evaluate them.
Psalm 57:5-6 “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let Your glory be over all the earth! They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves.”
Prayer: We exalt You, O Righteous Father, and have great joy in Your perfect knowledge of each person and Your righteous judgment. I am thankful for Your offer of mercy through revealing Your Son and His sacrifice on my behalf. Thank You that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, justified through obedience and willing sacrifice. Use me to proclaim this Good News that none who hear may rest among the dead.
Proverbs 21:15-16 “When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead.”
The sudden return of Jesus!
Scripture reading for July 20th: Luke 17, Psalm 144, Proverbs 20
Luke 17: 22-27 “And He said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in His day. But first He must suffer many thigs and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.”
Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus told them that the kingdom of God was coming in ways that normal observation could not reveal. It was an inside job, known only to those humble enough to repent and turn to Jesus, the Son of Man. Jesus pointed out to His disciples that there would be those trying to say that the kingdom was ‘here’ or ‘there’, but not to believe them. The return of Jesus Christ would bring the fullness of God’s kingdom to earth. This would happen suddenly, like a lightning bolt that lit up the sky from east to west! It would happen like the days of Noah, when normal life was proceeding and suddenly the flood came and destroyed all not on the Ark!
Psalm 144:5-7 “Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke! Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out Your arrows and rout them! Stretch out Your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, for the hand of foreigners, . .”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this instruction on the coming of Jesus Christ! I desire to see the fullness of the kingdom in the return of my Lord! I would pray with the psalmist, ‘O Lord, Bow Your heavens and come down!’ I long to see justice done on earth, as in heaven. I know that You desire to show mercy. Use me today to share the message of mercy You sent in Jesus Christ. Come, Lord Jesus!
Proverbs 20:22 “Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and He will deliver you.”
Good news: mercy and justice!
Scripture reading for June 30th: Luke 3, Psalm 130, Proverbs 6
Luke 3:15-18 “As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all saying, “I baptize you with water, but He Who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of Whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, to clear the threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.” So with many other exhortations he preached Good News to the people.”
John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, created a stir among the people and religious authorities. His preaching called people to repentance and to baptism or washing of filth in expectation of the coming Messiah. This Messiah, according to John, would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. He would come to bring in the harvest of souls from the earth, symbolized by a winnowing fork, a tool that was used to harvest the wheat. The wheat would then be beaten on the threshing floor to remove the chaff. The Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire, cleansing all sin and creating a new life. Sins would not only be forgiven, but consumed completely because Christ paid our penalty for sin. This message was “Good News” for sinners who were humble enough to repent!
Psalm 130:3-4 “If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your great mercy in sending Your Son to take the fire of judgment for broken law on our behalf on Calvary’s cross. Thank You for Jesus Christ, our Messiah, providing us with an inner baptism of the Holy Spirit and cleansing us with Holy Fire from Your altar of mercy. But for Your mercy, we would be consumed in the fire of judgment as chaff instead of gathered into Your Barn!
Proverbs 6:27-29 “Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.”
Grace as a gift to all!
Scripture reading for May 18th: Romans 3, Psalm 99, Proverbs 6
Romans 3:21-25 “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show Gods righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins. It was to show His righteousness at the present time, so the He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Man’s deepest need is righteousness. Our sin nature and subsequent rebellion against God and His Word has brought darkness over our hearts. God gave the Law, the ten commandments, to the Jews to reveal sin and cause them to confess their need for God’s forgiveness and grace. They were to bring a blood sacrifice as a covering for their sin to the priest. But God never intended to give righteousness through keeping the law, a form of works. God showed His righteousness through His Son, coming to earth in a human body and living without sin in complete obedience and surrender to His Father. God’s righteousness is now a gift to all who will believe on His Son and trust His blood sacrifice on their behalf.
Psalm 99:3-4 “Let them praise Your great and awesome Name! Holy is He! The King in His might loves justice. You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.”
Prayer: Father God, I thank You for Your amazing plan to place all mankind on level ground at the foot of Your Son’s cross. Thank You for Your justice in meeting our need of forgiveness through paying our penalty of death for our sins through Jesus Christ. Thank You for justifying us through faith and grace! Thank You for wiping away the guilt of my sins and restoring righteousness through repentance. Amen!
Proverbs 6:32-33 “He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.”
The “Bridegroom’s” longing!
Scripture reading for May 8th: Matthew 23, Psalm 91, Proverbs 29
Matthew 23: 37-39 “”O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see Me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord.'”
As Jesus came to the conclusion of His earthly ministry, for the last time He came to Jerusalem, the city of God. As He approached the city, He lamented over the city that had been given many opportunities to receive God’s instruction and correction from prophets, judges, and kings. Now Jesus Christ, Son of God, came personally to intercede for the city. In His foreknowledge, He knew that they would reject Him too. He would have loved to gather them under His wings. Jesus used a mother hen and chicks here. But this could likely refer to the Jewish Rabbi’s prayer shawl and the act of covering the bride during the wedding ceremony. Their unwillingness would leave them a desolate woman without a husband or inheritance or eternal provision. For those with open ears and hearts, the longing of Jesus calls out to us!
Psalm 91:1-2 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in Whom I trust.””
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this insight into Your heart of gathering a willing ‘Bride’ for Your Son from among Your own people. Thank You for sheltering those who come to Your through faith in Jesus Christ under the shadow of Your wings. Thank You for eternal life and protection and the grace of having justice done through the cross of Calvary in my life. I love You and willingly come under Your authority!
Proverbs 29:25-26 “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Many seek the face of a ruler, but it from the Lord that a man gets justice.”
Words no one wants to hear!
Scripture reading for April 14th: Matthew 7, Psalm 75, Proverbs 13
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and do many mighty works in Your Name?’ And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.””
As Jesus concluded His teaching on the blessed life of the kingdom, He warned His followers against going through the motions with outward show but lacking a true relationship with God through grace and faith. At the final judgment, many would come expecting a reward, only to be declared unfit to enter into the Father’s kingdom and eternal inheritance. They would call Jesus their ‘Lord’, but Jesus would declare that He never was personally acquainted with them. All their ‘good’ religious works were done to please others or earn favor with God. God has an appointed judgment and He will execute judgment with perfect equity. He has forewarned us about presumption and religious performance.
Psalm 75:1, 6-7 “”At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity.” . . . “For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God Who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your perfect love and also for promised perfect justice. I humbly ask You for mercy through faith in Your Son Jesus Christ. I invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in me and guide me in Your ways and in deepening knowledge and relationship with You. May none of my family, friends or neighbors hear the fearful declaration: ‘I never knew you.’
Proverbs 13:14 “The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.”
The appointed time!
Scripture reading for December 15th: Job 4-7, Psalm 99, Revelation 11
Key Scriptures: Revelation 11:15-18 “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to You, Lord God Almighty, Who is and Who was, for You have taken Your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but Your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding Your servants, the prophets and saints, and those Who fear Your Name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
John recorded the seven angels blowing the seven trumpets that followed the time of silence in heaven. There were loud voices declaring the victory of God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the beginning of their eternal reign over all creation. The elders around the throne fell on their faces and worshiped God for Who He is and was and will be and for the time of judgment coming for the dead and reward for the saints. God is just and will justly judge all and destroy those who reject Jesus Christ and destroy the earth. Those who honor Him will be fully rewarded for their faith.
Psalm 99:4-5 “The King in His might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God; worship at His footstool! Holy is He!”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I worship You as the eternal King of kings. I look forward to the appointed time of the judgment and reward! You are just, righteous and holy and my confidence is in Your Word! Help me to share Your Word enabling all to find reward at judgment day.
Job 4:6-7 “Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?”
Ask and receive!
Scripture reading for April 24th: John 14, Psalm 82, Proverbs 20
Key Scriptures: John 14:11-13 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My Name, I will do it.”
Jesus made some fantastic promises to those who would choose to believe in Him. He promised His disciples that they would do the same works that He had been doing. He also stated that they would do greater works. In fact, whatever need that they had, they could ask in His Name and He would do it. Faith to see what Jesus wanted to do and to ask Him would bring results!
Faith Confession: Thank You Jesus for these precious and magnificent promises. Help me to see what You want to do each day and to ask You for needed resources. (Action step: Ask Jesus in prayer for a need that you have and expect results.)
Psalm 82:3-4 Father, I pray Your Word: “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy, deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Amen.
Let’s go to the Mountain!
Scripture reading for September 20th: Micah 3-5
“Because of you (prophets and leaders), Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.” Micah 3:12
Micah wasted no time in telling the leaders of Israel and Judah their sins. These leaders had loved evil instead of good and failed to provide justice for the land. (Micah 3:1-2) The prophets of the land were no better. If they were given food or pay, they would bring a message of “peace”. If they were not paid, the message would be of coming war! The results of the failures of leadership were the destruction of the temple and of the city of Jerusalem. The leaders thought that they were safe because they called on the Lord and stayed near His temple. But Micah was a true prophet of the Lord and warned them free of charge!
Leadership is so important for the people of God! Wise leaders model godly behavior and love to see justice done. They live by God’s word and call the people to follow. They punish those who stray from the truth and reward those who are doing right. As we look at our nation today, many claim to be Christians, but their actions betray their words. Where are the godly prophets who will confront sin in the leadership?
“In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.”” Micah 4:1-2
God would establish Mt. Zion as the place of rule for all nations and peoples. (Micah 4:6-7) Micah also spoke about the city of Bethlehem in Judah. From this city would come the One who would rule over Israel. He would shepherd the flock of God’s people and His greatness would spread to the ends of the earth! (Micah 5:2-4) He would establish justice and teach mankind to walk in His ways! Micah spoke of Jesus Christ 700 years before His coming! God provided the godly Leader who would model justice and righteousness for the whole earth!