“He has showed 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
Both are richly applied to many things, from fair weights and measures, to just legal proceedings, to good personal conduct, to honesty and truthfulness, to an individual’s right or just claim, to the employers’ economically just behaviors, to the judges’ fair decisions, to the governmental responsibilities of kings and rulers.
The clear meaning of “justice” is “what is right” or “what is normal” — the way things are supposed to be. The fairness of laws coupled with fair and equal treatment under the law are common biblical concerns. Throughout scripture, God is the defender and protector of the poor, the alien, the debtor, the widow, and the orphan. Justice can also mean “deliverance,” “victory,” “vindication,” or “prosperity” — but for all, not just a few. Justice is part of God’s purpose in redemption.
But justice is also about restoring our broken relationship with God to what He intends for us, which includes our role in God’s purposes for all of His creatures and for the world that He has made.
God is a God of justice, but also a God of mercy and grace. Justice is getting what we deserve. Mercy is not getting what we deserve and grace is getting what we don’t deserve. God is also a God of mercy and grace. By His grace, we are saved. We don’t deserve it, but when I accept Jesus as my Savior, our gracious God gives it to me anyway.
Praise Him for His grace!
Ponder how you can show justice, mercy and grace to all people and love them as God loves them. Think of a person or situation where you can help to turn an injustice into justice.
Lord Jesus, I am a sinner saved by grace. As a Christian help me to demonstrate justice, mercy and grace to those around me. Help me to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with my God.
By John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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