April Theme – The Call to Justice
*Verse for the Month:* Psalm 33:5
“The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love.”
This Week’s Theme: Standing for Righteousness in an Unjust World
Monday (4/28): Trusting God as the Ultimate Judge
Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:4
“He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.”
Devotional Thought:
Have you ever heard that life is not fair? You do all the work, but someone else gets the reward. You tell the truth, but the lies sound better. You forgive, but others don’t forget.
It can be easy to want justice and to want it now. You may even try to bring your own form of justice. But there is one truth that remains. God sees everything. He is faithful and does no wrong. He is not only just but justice itself.
He doesn’t use the same standards we do. He doesn’t judge us by the scales of this world. We are not judged by our own merits. His ways are just and his works perfect.
When you trust God as the ultimate Judge, you don’t have to carry the weight of proving yourself. You don’t have to fight every battle every time. Injustice will be met by the only true Justice in this world.
We hold onto the hope that God sees all, knows all, and is in all things. Every sacrifice made, every heartbreak endured, every tear shed was not done without cause. He is making us whole as we trust in his plan. Finally, we don’t have to fear injustice going unanswered.
Action Steps:
-Reflect on a time when you may have felt that justice did not come swiftly.
-Write down moments when there was hope in God as our rock.
Biblical Testimony:
Perhaps the most powerful example of trusting in God as the ultimate judge is Jesus himself. He endured an unfair trial, unimaginable pain and suffering, and the ultimate betrayal by those that loved him.
Yet!
1 Peter 2:23 tells us that, ‘’When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”’
He endured because he entrusted himself to the ONLY one who judges justly.
Jesus showed us what it means to trust in a just God through the face of all adversity. He showed us what trust meant in the times of suffering and false accusations. He did not demand immediate Justice, nor the kind of justice us mere humans would demand. Instead he trusted in the one he sees it all and knows it all. The Ultimate Judge.
Prayer for the Day:
God, help me remember that justice is yours. That you are the judge and have been since the beginning. Let me rest in the thought that no matter what comes my way, you will bring justice to an unjust world. Open my eyes to see that your just ways are beyond what I could hope or imagine. Amen.
Tuesday (4/29): Overcoming Fear When Seeking Justice
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7
“ For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline..”
Devotional Thought:
Fear is a powerful tool. It is the voice that tells you, you can’t, you are not strong enough, your voice does not matter, or you are not enough. Standing in the face of that fear when seeking justice is what we are called to do. Seeking justice is not an easy path, it can mean standing up to powerful systems, confronting hard truths, or even risking your own comfort. But this risk is never too great.
We are not called to shrink back in fear. We are not called to live in timidity. 2 Timothy tells us that we have a spirit, through God, of power, love, and self discipline. We are called to be empowered, compassionate and clear headed in the face of injustice.
We cannot shrink back, we must step forward. Not in our own strength but in the strength of the almighty God. He is the one that goes before us and behind us. His Spirit gives you the power to speak boldly, the love to stand with compassion, and the clear head to act with wisdom
Action Steps:
-Practice what to do in the face of fear:
- Be filled with His Power; ask Him.
- Be filled with His Love; ask Him
- Be filled with His Wisdom; ask Him.
Biblical Testimony:
What is more powerful than a young boy and a giant when it comes to facing your fear. 1 Samuel 17 tells the story of David and Goliath. A young boy had the power and strength to stand before a Giant because of his great faith.
Imagine Goliath, a massive Philistine warrior that has made grown, battle hardened men, run and hide. The cowered in fear because of his strength and his size. No one could face him, or face their fear.
But there was David, a young boy who had never fought in a way, came to face this Giant. He may have been small but his faith was without compare. What seemed impossible to all was simple to someone so dependent on the all powerful God.
David’s faith was rooted in his experience with God up until this point. 1 Samuel 17:37 states, “The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”” What else could King Saul say at this moment, but go and let the Lord be with you.
David did not hesitate, he faced the Giant and won. David’s courage didn’t come from his own strength but from his unwavering trust in God’s power to fight for him. While this battle was important for the future of Israel, it was the ultimate opportunity to demonstrate what faith in the face of fear can help you overcome anything.
Prayer for the Day:
God, thank You that You have not given us a spirit of fear. When we face injustice and fear threatens to silence us, remind us to walk in Your power, Your love, and Your wisdom. Give us the strength to speak truth, stand in your love, and move forward in faith. Let justice flow from our hearts and be what leads us forward. Amen
Wednesday (4/30): Persevering in Righteousness
Scripture: Galatians 6:9
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
Devotional Thought:
Sometimes doing the right thing can feel like an uphill battle, in quick sand, under the hot sun. It can be EXHAUSTING! You may give your best or work your hardest, but it still is not enough. You may have all the love you can muster in your heart, yet still fall short of the goal.
Yet, Galatians 6:9 tells us something simple yet profound. DON’T GIVE UP!
The good you do today may not bloom right now, but God is promising a harvest of blessing. This is not an empty promise nor a thought meant to pacify us. This is a promise of greatness in his timing and in his way.
The seeds we plant today. The love we show. The kindness we demonstrate. The hearts we comfort are all seeds planted for the future. The farmer does not reap the harvest on the same day. He continues to sow and tend to his plants. And the harvest grows.
God sees every quiet act of faithfulness. Every time you chose love over retaliation. Every time you face fear through faith. Every prayer, every small step forward, every life touched. These are seeds planted that will take root in his time. And it will bring an unbelievable harvest in the future.
Action Steps:
-Take time to reflect on the moments when you showed love instead of hate, faith instead of fear, kindness instead of harm.
-Hold on to these moments and look out for the harvest.
-Do not give up!
Biblical Testimony:
The story of Daniel demonstrates exactly what preserving righteousness means in our lives. Daniel was young when he was stolen from his family. He was brought into a culture completely unlike his own. How easy would it have been to go with the flow and forsake what he knew to be true.
However, he persevered in his faith. He continued to do what was right and found favor with the officials. His entire life was marked with a commitment to righteousness. David stayed faithful even in the midst of threats.
Daniel 6 demonstrates the ultimate test of his faith. The law was passed that they could no longer pray. Daniel did not hide, he continued to do what he was called to do. He never got tired of doing what was right.
Daniel was thrown in the Lion’s den for his troubles. But God demonstrated his faithfulness and closed the mouth of the Lions. Every step that Daniel took was another seed planted for the future harvest.
Daniel 6: 26-28 shows us exactly what the King said when Daniel came out of the Lion’s den.
The king said, ‘“I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.
For he is the living God,
and he will endure forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
and his rule will never end.
He rescues and saves his people;
he performs miraculous signs and wonders
in the heavens and on earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”
Prayer for the Day:
God, thank you for your faithfulness. When I am tired or discouraged from doing good, remind me of your promises. Help me endure whether the harvest will be tomorrow or not in my lifetime. Remind me to trust in your promises. Amen.
Thursday (5/1): Faith Without Works is Dead
Scripture: James 2:26
“Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works”
Devotional Thought:
Faith without works is like a flashlight without batteries.
Faith without works is like a Car without Gas.
Faith without works is Dead.
James does not hold back when it comes to faith. He understood something key about having faith in God. Faith pushes us to act. Faith is more than a belief, it is more than a feeling.
True faith should change us from the inside out. When we truly believe God is who he says he is, it shows. It is the battery to our flashlight or the gas to our car.
And this is an all consuming concept. It should impact they way we do everything, even when we are alone and no one is watching. Our works are the way we care for others, the way we show love, the way we act out in Justice.
This true faith does not sit still, it is alive. It moves. It reaches. It gives. And it is not because we are trying to earn something, but because we have already accepted the faith and love that is found in God and it overflows.
Make sure your flashlight has batteries and your car has gas.
Action Steps:
-What action do you need to take to make sure your faith is alive, moving, reaching, and giving.
-Think of a practical step you can take to demonstrate your faith.
Biblical Testimony:
James 2:25 gives us an example of what this actually means. It talks about Rahab, a woman with a difficult past, that was moved to action. Jericho was marked for destruction, which also happened to be where Rahab lived.
However, Rahab, having heard the stories about the God of Israel, was moved to action. She had heard about the amazing ways he had protected his people already and had to do something.
When two Israelites spies came to Jericho, she hid them. Rahab hid them from the king’s men, risking her own life. She helped them escape and asked only one thing: that she and her family would be spared when Jericho fell.
Rahab did not sit back, she acted. Her faith was not proven by what she said, but by what she did. James 2:25 says she was right with God by the actions that she took. What a way to show faith.
Prayer for the Day:
God, thank you for the faith that can move mountains. Continue to remind us that our faith should push us to act. We do not want a quiet comfortable faith, we want that lives and breathes and demonstrates your power in all things. Bring me a living, moving faith. Amen
Friday (5/2): How Jesus Redefines Justice
Scripture: Matthew 20:25-28
“ But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.””
Devotional Thought:
How many times have we associated justice with fairness? The idea that people get what they deserve. Some may call it karma.
But that is not how Jesus defines justice. In a world where justice means power, position or maybe even payback, Jesus turns everything around.
Jesus did not look at justice as wielding power or putting ourselves above others. Justice for Jesus looked like forgiveness instead of condemnation and mercy instead of punishment. Jesus also gave us grace, one of the most powerful acts of justice, the undeserved favor.
Justice for Jesus meant a humbleness unto his death for the people he loved. It was the deep and all encompassing love that does not look at what is right or wrong but gives us better then what we could ever ask or hope for.
Action Steps:
-Find a way to lift others up
-Demonstrate forgiveness, mercy, and grace to those you come in contact with
Biblical Testimony:
Jesus demonstrates time and time again that his form of justice is to not make things right, but to make people right with God. Jesus does not ignore sin, he gave us his grace to cover it.
In John 8:1-11 there is a women caught in adultery. The law was clear on what justice should look like. The woman should be stoned. They cried out for what they thought justice looked like.
Instead Jesus did something different. He said “let the one without sin throw the first stone.” This caused a confusion with the crowd and they all left. Jesus, in that one moment, completely redefined justice. He showed them that true justice includes mercy and a journey to new life. His final command to the woman was to go and sin no more.
One act that we cannot forget, that completely transformed justice was the work of the cross. It was the idea of Justice and mercy colliding. We deserved our punishment, that would be justice as we define it, but Jesus fulfilled it providing a path forward covered in his love.
Prayer for the Day:
Thank you God for your mercy, grace, and true justice. Continue to show us how to demonstrate your justice as we aim to be the servant leaders you have called us to be. Amen.
Saturday & Sunday (5/3-4): Time to Reflect, Act, & Worship
This Weeks’s Scriptures:
Psalms 33:5
Deuteronomy 32:4
1 Peter 2:23
2 Timothy 1:7
1 Samuel 17
Galatians 6:9
Daniel 6: 26-28
James 2:26
James 2:25
Matthew 20:25-28
John 8:1-11
Time to Reflect:
Standing in Justice in an unjust world can be a daunting task. We live in a world we power can overshadow the truth and the loudest voices are the ones that win. We often feel out of place when we stand for justice.
So how do we stand for Justice as believers in Christ? While justice can look like protesting wrongs, and there is a place and time for that, it is a living justice we are striving for. This means living out Justice as defined by Jesus EVERY SINGLE DAY. Remember, don’t give up.
This is a justice built on restoration, love, grace and mercy.
Micah 6:8 says, “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
To act justly means we face our fears and the brokenness head on. We speak for the vulnerable, we care for the hurt, and we demonstrate Jesus’ love above all else.
Jesus stood for justice in the most powerful way: by going to the cross. He did not demand fairness, he did not demand man’s interpretation of justice. He forgave! And it is through his grace we must continue to act out in justice.
Time to Act
-Journal: What have I learned this week about true Justice according to Jesus.
-Worship- Spend time listening to worship songs and reflecting on the verses from the week. Find ways to demonstrate justice as an act of worship.
-Commit: Write down how you can face your fear through the power of Jesus.
Time to Worship:
Take time to listen to the song Give me your eyes, by Brandon Heath. Reflect on how through God’s eyes we can be agents of Justice.
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me you heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Lyrics excerpted from “Give Me Your Eyes” by Brandon Heath. Retrieved from Streetdirectory.com Lyric Advisor: https://www.streetdirectory.com/lyricadvisor/song/uplfc/give_me_your_eyes/
Watch the video “Give Me Your Eyes” by Brandon Heath
https://youtu.be/P5AkNqLuVgY?si=uMHPIAnFK-299YL7
Weekend Prayer:
Lord, you have demonstrated over and over again your love for us. We live in such a broken world and we are constantly confronted with the world’s version of Justice. Give us your eye and your heart to stand on the Justice that you demonstrated for us. Let us never tire of doing what is right. Continue to allow us to demonstrate our faith through our works. Thank you for the ultimate justice leading to your mercy on the cross. May we continue to stand on you. In Jesus Name. Amen.