Justice
is a topic we are hearing much about right now. It is not always a topic we
hear taught about in the church. But it is a topic that God talks about a lot
in Scripture. It is mentioned over 130 times in the Bible.
God
has not hidden from us what He wants our lives to be. So, He gives us truths
like the following one.
Micah
6:8
He
has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to
do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
In
John 15:22 Jesus tells us that we have no excuse for our sin.
In
Romans 2:1 we are told that we have no excuse for judging others.
In
the Micah 6:8 passage we are told that we have no excuse because God has told
us. In fact, in 2 Peter 1:3 we are told that God has given us all we need for
life and godliness.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is hearing God, believing God, and obeying
God.
God
has told us what is good.
Good
comes from a root word that means to be delightful and to be beneficial and
joyful.
We
are to be delightful to God and beneficial to others which will lead to true
joy for us.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is doing good.
So,
what is good from God’s perspective?
First,
to do justice.
The
Hebrew word for justice means acquitting or punishing every person on the merit
of the case, regardless of race, social status, or material status. It also
means giving every person the same opportunities no matter who they are or
where they come from.
In
James we are warned about showing partiality.
James
2:1
My
brothers show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Lord of glory.
We
are not to show partiality. Why?
James
2:9
But
if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as
transgressors.
Because
when we do, we are sinning and are going against God’s will.
We
are to do justice. That means we are to take actions that are just and lead to
justice for others.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is act justly and to work to provide justice
for others.
Second,
to love mercy.
The
Hebrew word for mercy here means unconditional kindness and compassion. Mercy
basically means give others the benefit of the doubt, not judging, and helping
even when the person does not “deserve it”.
Justice
is the action, and mercy is the motive behind the action.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is extending mercy to the undeserving.
Third,
to walk humbly with your God.
God
opposes the proud, but He give grace to the humble. Humility is not viewing
yourself as worthless or putting yourself down. True humility is putting
yourself in the proper position which is under God’s authority. Humility is
always exalting Jesus above all things including ourselves.
Raise
the Roof and Remove the Walls is humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of
God.
Micah
6:8 is a summary of how God wants us to live. To walk humbly with God is to
know Him intimately and to be attentive to what He desires and loves. And God
loves justice and mercy.
We
as God’s people, the church, need to be the Body of Christ and live in a humble,
intimate relationship with Jesus, living justly and extending justice to all
with no conditions because we have experienced the unconditional mercy and
grace of Jesus.
With
Justice and Mercy, Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,
Joe
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