“To do justice and judgment Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.” - Proverbs 21:3
Doing the right thing does not always feel right. Sometimes, it is more difficult to do what is right and just than to close our eyes, ignore reality, and do nothing. We generally know the difference between right and wrong in most cases, especially in a social and cultural context. But how often do we desire to be the one who stands for right, speaks for what is right, even when no one else is willing? And then there are the few of us who see what is right but are all too eager to go on a crusade to correct wrongs and to blast people for their wayward morals and ethics. And that too can be easy. But can you who love to do that kind of justice, also love to do it with God’s kind of mercy?
Having now been in this role as an administrator for almost one month, I have had to work through some of the most challenging conversations I’ve had in my life. I have been confronted with the fear of having to choose between the right thing, and the easy thing. I have had to man up and prepare myself for critical conversations where I do not know what the outcome is going to be. I am now navigating the reality that I am going to be increasingly placed in positions where I will need to do really hard things. Things that are right to do, right things that must be done. Because they are just and prudent and because they build up the kingdom of God.
God Himself is a God of justice and judgment. This picture of the Lord can seem harsh and stoic. But then if you look at the life of Jesus, you see how God’s justice and judgment actually work. You’ll see Jesus’ care for people. You see His mercy for the sinner. You get perspective on His heart for the broken, and His hatred for injustice. Jesus is a righteous judge. His decisions are not just right, they are good. In one meeting with our leadership team the newly elected president of the conference (Ricardo Viloria) shared something that he himself had recently learned from another experienced leader. It resonated with me and I believe it will stick with you too. Here it is, you and I should learn to do the right thing, at the right time, in the right way, for the right reasons. Boom. So simple, so wise and sensible. And yet so difficult right? Why? For many reasons.
One of the key reasons is because the human heart is not naturally right, not intrinsically just, not inherently good. We can identify it, but we struggle to do it. We so passionately desire to make everyone else and everything else right, but we spend so little time on ourselves being right and doing right. So what is the solution? It is Christ within. There is no other way. When you open your life to His life, your heart to His heart, your mind to His mind, the Spirit of Jesus takes over. Then, you are not pursuing justice and judgment in your own wisdom and meager power, but in that of the Lord. Then you will have boldness mixed with mercy and grace to be able to do what is right, at the right time, in the right way, and for the right reasons. And notice the rest of the text, this posture of just doin is more pleasing to God than even sacrifices and gifts to God and even worship. That’s because true sacrifice, true worship, is the yielding of the soul to the power of Jesus. And if we learn to do this daily, we will be people of justice and judgment and it will reveal and reflect the beauty and glory of our great God to the world.
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The recent series on Righteousness By Faith will conclude this week as our lead elder Steve Rinker preaches the word. Did you know that the word righteousness and justice are exactly the same in the Bible? Therefore, righteousness by faith is justice or just by faith. And by this faith we worship a righteous and just God. May the Holy Spirit of the living God pour out upon us all this weekend.
Pastor Dean