Being Like Him - a 40 Day Lenten DevotionalSample

Justice

One of the things that puzzled many during Jesus’ earthly journey was His sense of justice. Jesus broke many pious understandings of the law regarding the Sabbath, fasting, offering, praying, and so on. He did that by giving a perspective of how God judges those things. Understanding His perspective gives us the real sense of justice he intends and desires from us.

Earlier, we looked into attributes like the grace and mercy of God, and it is equally important to understand the justice of God. Grace and mercy can be understood only in the context of God’s justice. The Godhead family knew no human could ever satisfy the requirements to appease the judgment of God towards human sin. The justice of God could be appeased only by God himself; such is the magnitude of his justice. Trinitarian Family decided to offer themselves to satisfy the holy requirements of their own justice system. Only a just God could ever do something like this.

The abundant availability of His mercy and grace should not diminish our sense of justice. What does it mean to be like Him in justice? To be like Him is to be willing to make the necessary sacrifices that allow for establishing justice.

Our sense of feelings should be aligned with God’s standards. Whatever angers Him must anger us. Whatever pains Him must pain us. God is intolerant towards injustice; this should move our heart to seek justice around us, even if it costs us our comfort. To be like Him in justice is easier said than done. We ought to strive to become like Him truly.

To strive in our own strength and will power can be frustrating, especially when we fail and compromise in moments of temptation. However, we are promised the Holy Spirit, who will enable us to be a just person in His eyes. As I reflect, I know I have failed to be just in some situations, fearing the consequences. However, the Family of the Godhead did not fear death, even death on a cross, to fulfill justice.

May we reflect on these aspects of our life, where we have put our selfish comforts ahead of justice. May we confess, recalling the times we’ve pained God by being unjust to our own family and friends. Let the model of Jesus inspire us to be like Him in justice. Let us ask God to make us more sensitive and to give us a heart that is just, and courage to execute what is right in His eyes.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you who are just and who was willing to sacrifice your own life to justify us, we pray that you give us your courage and strength to be a person of justice in all situations of our life, that we may be more like you. In Jesus name, Amen.