Claiming God’s power for the powerless: Loving the lost, the last and the least
Many of you have been treated unjustly. We have sometimes been treated disrespectfully and with disdain because of our race, gender, faith, etc. Most of us have treated others unjustly. Since you know what that is like, then you should be all the more motivated to show and bring justice to others. Remember: God hates injustice.
Micah 6:8
Isaiah 58:6-9
God has called us to be instruments to bring Biblical justice to people far and near.
Simply put, doing justice means being a person committed to making wrongs right in our personal life and the world through the power of the Holy Spirit.
When we go out and distribute food to folks, pray and minister, we will run into people who are treated unjustly. We’re doing a small thing to correct that for those we meet.
Reasons why the ministry of bringing justice is so exciting and such a privilege:
1. When we do justice we are putting ourselves at the very center of God’s activity in the world. We are doing what Jesus came to do and what He is doing in the world by His Spirit. We need to ask the Lord what we need to do in our workplaces, schools, neighborhoods and other places where we find ourselves.
Freely we have received, so freely we need to give.
Jim tells the story of when he was a pastor in Michigan and was out with a team passing out groceries in an apartment community where there was great need. As they were going about meeting people, they led one man to faith in Christ. That man passed away a few days later. It was fortunate that they were able to bring healing and justice to him right before it was too late.
Isaiah 42:3-4
2. We can fully expect to experience God’s power and provision as we step out in the Spirit towards justice and compassion. Justice is claiming God’s power for the powerless. We ask for God’s power to come in where it’s needed. The ministry of justice is ministering to people’s needs with God’s resources not ours. We ask for things on Earth to align with what’s happening in Heaven. (“… Your Kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven.”)
Luke 18:7-8
3. As we minister God’s justice we not only help people, we empower people.
Why justice matters
1. It is rooted in the very nature of God and how He sees people.
He takes all forms of injustice personally.
Matthew 25:35
He demonstrated His commitment to justice at the cross.
“Jesus is the righteous judge, judged in our place for our acts of injustice.” Karl Barth
By being condemned for us He not only brought just forgiveness but He condemned our condemner and broke Satan’s grip.
2. Having received justification He now has made us agents of His justice. We are freed to set free, things have been made right with God so that they can be made right for others.
To understand the significance of justice in the life of a Christian it is helpful to understand that in the New Testament it is synonymous with righteousness. (dikaiosune)
- Matthew 5:3
- Matthew 5:10
- Matthew 6:33
- Romans 14:17
- Romans 6:13
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Ephesians 4:24
- John 16:8
- Hebrews 1:9
3. The ultimate form of justice comes when people receive Christ and have the hope of eternal life.
1 Peter 3:9
Ways to begin to do justly
1. Bring justice to your own heart and relationships first.
Luke 3:11
2. Refuse to ignore injustice. Rise up and make a difference.
1 John 3:17-18
3. Put a name and a face on injustice. Justice is our response to “The One”.
4. Do a justice fast. Do a fast to help make yourself more sensitive to the injustice around us.
Isaiah 58:6-7
5. Change the darkness with confidence in the power of God’s light. We have the Spirit of God within us. That Spirit will bring His light no matter where He leads up. In fact, God will often move us to places so He can use us in those places. Get involved – outside your family. Allow God to inconvenience you so He can use you. God is not on your schedule!
Please share with us if you get inconvenienced this week in order to minister to others.
Come and “do justice” with us at Justice Fellowship. We are the criminal justice reform arm of Prison Fellowship and work with lawmakers, policymakers and others to promote justice in some of the darkest places on earth: prisons.
Become an advocate. It’s easy. Visit our Web site and check out some of the issues we are currently working on: http://www.justicefellowship.org/justice-fellowship-home
Kathryn Wiley
Justice Fellowship
Lansdowne, Virginia
Prison ministry is an extremely important work. We encourage folks to check out this worthwhile cause and to join in if you’re called to do it. We have and have had several of our members who had careers which led them to work in prisons. They often tell us about the challenges they face in helping the people inside.