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: The Link Between Justice and Mercy

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Monday (4/21): Justice Without Mercy is Incomplete

Scripture: Zechariah 7:8-9
8 Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, 9 “This is what the Lord of armies has said: ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10 and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’

Devotional Thought:
Justice and mercy are often seen as two separate paths, yet in the Kingdom of God, they walk hand in hand. In Zechariah 7, Zechariah speaks to a people who had fallen into the trap of hollow religion. They were fasting and praying, but their lives did not reflect the justice and compassion God desired. The widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor were being overlooked and oppressed. God wasn’t moved by their rituals—He longed for a community that lived out His heart: to do what is right and to love with deep compassion.
Justice without mercy can quickly become cold, rigid, and self-righteous. It may punish wrongdoing but forgets the person behind the mistake. On the other hand, mercy without justice may excuse harm, failing to protect the vulnerable or bring about real change. But when justice and mercy are held together—when truth is spoken in love, and compassion fuels our pursuit of righteousness—we become agents of restoration. We reflect the character of the One who is both just and merciful, who holds sinners accountable and yet offers grace freely through Christ.
As followers of Jesus, we are not asked to choose between justice or mercy—we are called to live out both. That means confronting systems and behaviors that harm others while extending forgiveness, hope, and a hand to those who have fallen. It means listening to the cries of the hurting and standing up for what is right—not with condemnation, but with humility and love. This is how we shine light in dark places and show the world what God’s justice truly looks like: not retribution, but redemption.

Action Steps:
• Reflect on where in your life you may be leaning too heavily on justice or mercy.
• Write down one way you can practice merciful justice this week—whether in a conversation, a relationship, or an act of advocacy.

Biblical Testimony:
Jonah is a surprising witness to this principle. He wanted justice for Nineveh—God’s judgment poured out. But God desired to show mercy. Jonah struggled with the idea that mercy could be extended to such a wicked people. Yet in the end, God reminded him that justice without mercy would have destroyed an entire city—and that God is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.”
The cross itself is the ultimate demonstration of justice and mercy intersecting. Justice demanded a penalty for sin; mercy provided Jesus as the substitute. God didn’t overlook sin—He paid for it. And in doing so, He offered a way for justice to be served and mercy to be poured out.

Prayer for the Day:
Lord, help me to live with a heart that mirrors Yours—one that loves justice and is filled with mercy. Let me not seek vengeance but restoration. Teach me the way of compassionate justice. Amen.

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Tuesday (4/22): Showing Mercy Like Jesus

Scripture: Matthew 9:12-13
12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Now go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, rather than sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Devotional Thought:
In a world that often demands retribution and measures worth by performance, Jesus turns everything upside down. When questioned by the Pharisees for associating with those deemed unworthy—tax collectors, sinners, the socially rejected—Jesus responds with a piercing reminder: “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’” (Matthew 9:13). God isn’t impressed with outward appearances or empty rituals. His heart beats for mercy—for those who are hurting, wandering, or weighed down by shame. Mercy, in Jesus’ hands, becomes a force that interrupts cycles of judgment and invites healing instead.
Time and again, Jesus modeled this radical mercy. He shielded the adulterous woman from stoning, touched the untouchable leper, stopped for the beggar crying out on the roadside, and forgave those who nailed Him to the cross. His mercy wasn’t passive or permissive—it was powerful. It wasn’t about excusing sin, but about creating space for restoration. True mercy, as Jesus practiced it, is strength clothed in gentleness. It reaches beyond what is fair and offers what is needed: dignity, belonging, and hope.
To show mercy like Jesus is to live differently. It’s choosing compassion when retaliation would be easier. It’s seeing people as more than their worst moments and believing in God’s power to redeem every story. This kind of mercy doesn’t deny justice—it fulfills it in love. As recipients of divine mercy ourselves, we’re called to extend it outward, disrupting cycles of condemnation with grace. Because in the end, mercy isn’t just something God gives us—it’s something He wants to give through us.

Action Steps:
• Ask God to show you someone who needs mercy from you today—then extend it.
• Practice mercy in one tangible way: a forgiving word, a generous act, a withheld judgment.

Biblical Testimony:
One of the clearest demonstrations of mercy in action is the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1–11). Brought before Jesus to be condemned by the law, she expected judgment. But Jesus stooped down, drew in the dust, and said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” One by one, the accusers left, and Jesus told her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”
In this moment, Jesus didn’t dismiss justice—He redirected it. He upheld her dignity, offered her mercy, and invited her to transformation. That is the mercy we’re called to embody: a mercy that calls people higher, not merely lets them off the hook.

Prayer for the Day:
Jesus, thank You for showing me mercy when I least deserved it. Help me to live with that same mercy in my relationships, my words, and my heart. Amen

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Wednesday (4/23): The Power of Forgiveness in Justice

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15
9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’
14 For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.

Devotional Thought:
Forgiveness is not the absence of justice—it is its highest form in the Kingdom of God. While the world often sees justice as making someone pay for what they’ve done, God’s justice aims for something deeper: restoration. Forgiveness doesn’t ignore wrongdoing or minimize pain. Instead, it acknowledges the wound, then releases the offender from our grip of retaliation. It is the divine act of choosing mercy over resentment—not because the hurt wasn’t real, but because freedom is more powerful than vengeance.
Jesus made forgiveness a non-negotiable part of following Him. When He taught His disciples to pray, He included the radical line, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” And in the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21–35), He made it clear that a life marked by grace must also be marked by forgiveness. When we forgive, we aren’t letting someone “off the hook”—we’re placing them into God’s hands, trusting that He alone is the righteous judge. We refuse to let bitterness poison our souls or define our future.
Forgiveness is not a denial of pain; it is an invitation for God to heal it. In releasing others, we also release ourselves. We break the cycle of hurt that so easily becomes generational. In this way, forgiveness is not a passive act—it’s courageous. It’s active justice that says: “This will not control me anymore. I choose peace over punishment.” And in that holy moment, heaven leans in—because the heart of God is always in the work of making things whole again.

Action Steps:
• Reflect: Is there someone you need to forgive? Write their name down and pray for them today.
• Ask God for the strength to release bitterness and walk in grace.

Biblical Testimony:
Joseph’s story in Genesis is a powerful illustration of forgiveness as justice. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and unjustly imprisoned, Joseph had every reason to seek revenge. But when given the opportunity, he chose forgiveness: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…” (Genesis 50:20).
Joseph’s act of forgiveness didn’t erase the past—it redeemed it. He was used by God to save countless lives during the famine, including his own family. His story shows how forgiveness can fulfill justice through healing, not retaliation.

Prayer for the Day:
God, help me to forgive as You have forgiven me. Heal my heart where it has been wounded, and give me the courage to release others into Your care. Amen.

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Thursday (4/24): Compassion as an Act of Justice

Scripture: 1 John 3:17-18
“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

Devotional Thought:
Justice, in the eyes of God, is never cold or detached—it is deeply personal and compassion-driven. While the world often limits justice to laws, policies, and courtrooms, Scripture paints a broader picture. God’s justice is about restoring what’s broken, protecting the vulnerable, and righting wrongs through love in action. The prophet Isaiah reminds us not just to “seek justice,” but to defend the oppressed, take up the cause of the fatherless, and plead the case of the widow (Isaiah 1:17). Justice that doesn’t move us to act remains incomplete.
Jesus embodied this justice with compassion. He didn’t just teach about love—He touched the leper, fed the hungry, and noticed the invisible. His justice didn’t remain a lofty idea; it became tangible in everyday encounters. Likewise, when we open our eyes to the suffering around us and respond with mercy, we turn justice into something the world can see and feel. Compassion isn’t just kindness—it’s justice clothed in tenderness. It refuses to let pain go unnoticed or needs go unmet when we have the power to make a difference.
In God’s Kingdom, apathy is not neutral—it’s unjust. When we withhold compassion from someone in need, we withhold part of God’s justice in the world. But every time we act—whether it’s preparing a meal, offering a listening ear, or advocating for someone without a voice—we participate in the restoration God desires. Our compassion becomes a protest against indifference and a declaration that all people matter. And in doing so, we live out God’s justice, not as a duty, but as an overflow of love.

Action Steps:
• Look for one person or situation where you can respond with compassionate action today.
• Ask: What needs have I overlooked because I’ve been too busy or distracted?

Biblical Testimony:
The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) is the perfect union of compassion and justice. When a man was beaten and left for dead, religious leaders passed him by. It was the Samaritan—an outsider—who stopped, treated his wounds, and ensured his ongoing care.
Jesus used this story to redefine who our “neighbor” is. Justice isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about loving mercy and acting compassionately, even when it’s inconvenient. The Samaritan didn’t just feel something—he did something.

Prayer for the Day:
Lord, awaken my heart to the needs around me. Let me not walk past suffering but be moved with compassion, like You. Let my faith be active and visible. Amen.

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Friday (4/25): Balancing Truth and Grace

Scripture: John 1:14-18
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and called out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who is coming after me has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has]explained Him.

Devotional Thought:
Jesus came not only to reveal the heart of God but to model what divine justice looks like in action—anchored in both truth and grace. These two forces, often seen as opposites, are seamlessly united in Christ. Truth without grace can become a weapon, wounding those already hurting. Grace without truth can become an enabler, keeping people from healing and growth. But in Jesus, we find both—perfectly balanced, beautifully held together. As John writes, He came “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), offering us a way of justice that restores rather than destroys.
Nowhere is this balance more evident than in Jesus’ encounter with the woman caught in adultery (John 8). The crowd demanded judgment, eager to wield the truth of the law. But Jesus responded with unexpected grace—shielding her from condemnation while gently but firmly pointing her toward a new life: “Neither do I condemn you… go and sin no more.” He did not excuse her sin, but He also did not shame her. His justice held space for both accountability and mercy—truth that sets free, not truth that shames.
In a world deeply divided between harsh judgment and permissive tolerance, we are invited to walk a different path. Living justly in the way of Jesus means holding others with compassion while speaking the truth in love. It means resisting the urge to swing to extremes and instead choosing the sacred tension where healing happens. When we live this way, we become living reflections of Jesus—who meets people where they are, loves them enough not to leave them there, and always points the way forward with both grace and truth.

Action Steps:
• Examine your own tendencies—do you lean more toward truth or grace?
• Ask God to help you grow in the one that’s harder for you, so your justice can reflect Christ’s heart.

Biblical Testimony:
Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus at night, seeking truth (John 3). Jesus gave him both truth and grace—explaining the need to be born again, but also inviting him into the light. Later, Nicodemus appears again—helping prepare Jesus’ body for burial. Grace had done its work in truth.
Jesus’ interaction with people—whether tax collectors, religious leaders, or outcasts—always held these two in beautiful balance. If we want to reflect the justice of Jesus, we must do the same.

Prayer for the Day:
Jesus, help me to speak truth with love and to show grace without compromising holiness. Let my life reflect both the conviction and compassion of Your heart. Amen.

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Saturday & Sunday (4/26-27): Time to Reflect, Act, & Worship

This Weeks’s Scriptures:
Zechariah 7:8–10
Matthew 9:12–13
John 8:1–11
Matthew 6:14–15
Matthew 18:21–35
Genesis 50:20
1 John 3:17–18
Isaiah 1:17
Luke 10:25–37
John 1:14–18
John 3:1–21


Time to Reflect:
In the heart of God, justice and mercy are not opposing forces—they are intertwined expressions of His love. From the prophets to the life of Jesus, Scripture paints a picture of justice that restores and mercy that transforms. Zechariah calls us to “dispense true justice” while showing compassion to the vulnerable. Jesus echoes this by declaring, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” reminding us that rituals mean nothing without a life marked by compassion. Forgiveness, too, is seen as a profound act of justice—breaking cycles of harm and replacing them with grace, as Joseph did when he forgave the brothers who betrayed him.
Jesus embodies this perfect balance. He meets sinners with both grace and truth. He doesn’t ignore sin—He bears it. He doesn’t excuse brokenness—He heals it. Whether shielding the adulterous woman from judgment or teaching Nicodemus in the night, Jesus shows us that justice is not merely about setting things right through rules but restoring people through relationship. Compassion isn’t weakness—it’s a holy act of protest against apathy. Mercy is not a soft option—it’s the way of the cross. And when we, too, walk in this balance, we become instruments of God’s redemptive justice in a fractured world.

Time to Act
• Journal: What have I learned this week about justice and mercy?
• Worship: Spend time listening to a worship song or walking in nature, giving thanks for God’s justice and mercy.
• Commit: Write down one justice-centered practice you will commit to this month.

Time to Worship:
Take time, listen, and reflect on the lyrics of “Brother” by The Brilliance
“When I look into the face of my enemy
I see my brother, I see my brother
When I look into the face of my enemy
I see my brother, I see my brother
Forgiveness is the garment of our courage
The power to make the peace we long to know
Open up our eyes
To see the wounds that bind all of humankind
May our shutter hearts
Greet the dawn of life with charity and love”

• Source: LyricFind
  Songwriters: David Gungor / Ian Morgan Cron / John Arndt
  Brother lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Songtrust Ave


Watch the lyric video for “Brother”by The Brilliance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvdrN8Zorjc

Weekend Prayer:
Lord, You are the God of justice and mercy, truth and grace. Teach me to live like You—with eyes that see the hurting, hands ready to restore, and a heart that holds both conviction and compassion. Help me not to lean too far into judgment or permissiveness, but to walk in the holy balance You modeled through Christ. Let my life reflect Your justice—not through punishment, but through mercy that redeems. In Jesus’ name, Amen.