GOD IS JUST

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“The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and upright is he.” Deuteronomy 32:4

The mimic octopus, first discovered off the coast of Indonesia in 1998, is a master of disguise. This tricky sea creature can change its shape, color, and movements to impersonate up to fifteen different predators. In today’s devotional, we start looking at God’s attributes of goodness. These are his attributes that we, as his people, are called to imitate. But unlike the mimic octopus, whose mimicry is only skin deep, our imitation must begin in the heart. 

Our awesome God is righteous, meaning he is right in all he does and is the very standard of what is considered right and good. As a good God, he holds us to these same standards, punishing evil and rewarding good. When you think of God’s justice, you may only think of his punishment toward the wicked, such as the destruction of Sodom in Genesis 19. But we should also think of God’s defense of the widow and the orphan. Because he is just, he takes up the cause of the righteous and is the defender of the one treated unjustly. He is a good judge, fair in all his dealings, the defender of the defenseless, and the rewarder of the righteous. 

Trusting in God’s justice can be challenging in a world full of so much injustice. If God is just, why do evil men prosper? Why do the righteous suffer? Why does injustice seem to prevail? But when these questions plague us, we can look to Jesus. He is the perfectly righteous One who suffered unjustly that we may be justified, or made righteous in God’s sight. 

In the here and now, justice will often be incomplete. But that will not always be the case. When Jesus returns and brings the fullness of his kingdom, every wrong will be made right. Until then, we’re called to stand for what is right, be fair in all of our dealings, and defend those in our communities who suffer unjustly. 

Because God is just, he expects us to be just in all our relationships. 

Reflect

1. Why is it necessary for a good God to be just? How does this attribute of God help you to understand what Jesus did for you on the cross?  
2. What does it look like for you to be just in all your relationships?

Pray

“The Rock, his work is perfect,  
for all his ways are justice.  
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,  
just and upright is he.” Deuteronomy 32:4 

Jesus, you are the only just and wise King. I look to your ways to understand righteousness and goodness. Even though we are broken people living in a broken world, you are able to bring justice where there is injustice. You have called me to be your hands and feet, to speak truth, to defend the defenseless, and to stand for what is right. Lord, open my eyes to those who need your healing. Guide my ways so that I would be your mouthpiece for justice in this world. In your name I pray, amen.