I wish I had a dollar for every time my husband has reminded me, “You know Rebekah, justice is really important to you!”  I’ve always been a fan of the underdog and I cannot tolerate seeing anything close to abuse.  I know that my history has contributed to my intolerance in this area.  As a counselor, I have noticed that this is common among people who have experienced abuse.  I remember years ago I sat down and looked through page after page in the Bible underlining every time I saw the word “justice.”   I was shocked at how many times it was mentioned in the bible.

I am my Father’s daughter!  That is, my Heavenly Father.  He also feels deeply for the underdog and the abused.  I love the fact that justice is extremely important to Him and He has downloaded that into my DNA.  If you are His child, you too, have the same heart as His, whether you know it or not.  Understanding your oneness with Jesus will change everything in your life.

Did you know that our Heavenly Father has promised to set the record straight with the injustices in the world?  When I read about the wrath of God in the scriptures sometimes I cringe.  I’m afraid it will be misunderstood by someone.  I had a horrible concept of God until a few years ago.  It was hard for me to not see Him as a harsh dictator that sat on His throne with lightning bolts coming out of His eyes when we mess up.  NOTHING could be further from the truth.  God is love!  He is not willing that anyone perish.  He pursues everyone with His love and passion because He is crazy about us and wants a real relationship with every human being.  However, the Bible does tell us that in time, evil will get what it deserves.  Yes, that person will be given every chance to turn to God but it no longer bothers me that the child molester that is unrepentant or the murderer with no regret will get justice.  And now that I know the real God, I know that it breaks HIS heart when people will not respond to His love.  When Jesus came to earth to pay for our sins, He took the wrath of God on Himself for everyone that receives His gift of salvation.  I’ve heard it put this way; Jesus will gladly pay our sin debt or we will have to pay our own sin debt if we reject Him.

There is nothing wrong with justice being important to me, but when I try to take matters into my own hands to make justice happen I have tried to take the place of God.  Yes, I have a voice and I am right to use it but I’m not God.  And He clearly says, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.”  Over and over in the scriptures you will find verses like Psalms 33:5, “He loves righteousness and justice.  The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.”  It also says that He is a God of mercy which means He chooses to not give people what they deserve.  Have you ever been so hurt that you have thought, “I don’t want God to give them mercy?”  I’m so glad I’m not God.  He knows what He is doing and I trust His judgement.  And by the way, I’m so glad He chose to give me mercy and not give me what I deserved.  I love His grace and mercy and at the same time there is a part of me that struggles.  I haven’t figured all of this out and I may not need to figure it all out.  I just hand it all to God and ask Him to sort it out and help me to follow His heart.

I love these verses, “Psalm 82:3, “Vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute.”  Psalm 89:14, “Righteousenss and justice are the foundation of Your throne.”  Psalm 111:7, “The works of His hands are truth and justice.  All His precepts are sure.”  He executes justice for the oppressed, the hungry, the weak, the fatherless, the Godly, the humble, the afflicted, the poor and many others.

In the day we live many people are using their voices and their rights to demand justice.  There is certainly nothing wrong with peaceful protest.  We just have to make our stand but give the results to God.  He cares about justice even more than you do.  And He cares that you are hurting.  May we use our voice but wait on Him.

Isa. 30:18 – Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you. And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  How blessed are all those who long for Him.”