God’s heart and kingdom is one of both mercy and justice. Jesus met the marginalized where they were, but He also worked to make room for them. May we do the same.
Father,
In You, my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
Keep me near to Your heart.
There’s so much brokenness and pain in this world.
The pain of disease and death.
Of poverty and homelessness.
Of racial strife and dissension.
Of deteriorating mental health.
Of disunity and division in Your Body.
It feels like a tidal wave crashing down on me.
Anchor me to Your heart.
Let me not be swept away in offering mercy without first offering myself to You.
Let me not be carried away in pursuing justice without first pursuing You.
Help me to work with You to offer mercy and pursue justice.
Teach me to love righteousness and justice and mercy as You do.
Father, You have poured out Your love and faithfulness for all to see.
Love that is great—reaching to the heavens.
Faithfulness that is immense—reaching to the skies.
May I reflect the greatness of Your love.
Love that is displayed in both mercy and justice.
May I reflect the immensity of Your faithfulness.
Faithfulness that is displayed in both mercy and justice.
The two—mercy and justice—aren’t mutually exclusive.
They’re intimately interwoven.
For You are both the Just and the Justifier.
You are the Judge and the Mercy Giver.
May I reflect who You are.
May I be a person of Your character.
May I carry Your name well.
May Your Body both extend mercy and chase after justice.
We’ve gone far too long with stingy hands and calloused hearts.
Soften us. Break us with compassion.
May we be found to have hearts of flesh, not hearts of stone.
For Your glory,
Amen.
How can you share mercy and justice today? Maybe, it looks like sitting down across from someone and having a conversation (even if it means wearing a mask while you do it). Maybe, it looks like being generous and giving to someone in need. Maybe, it looks like serving at a local ministry. Maybe, it looks like shopping locally or buying fair trade.
But, whatever it looks like, start.
Because wherever you go, you have the opportunity to tell good news.
So start.
Start extending mercy.
Start chasing after justice.
Start walking humbly.
And do it all with God.
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.“
~ Micah 6v8 NIV
Author:
Hi, I’m Keagan! Some of my friends call me “Keags” though! My wife, Charity, is the C to my K. I am loved by Jesus and am in love with Jesus! I am passionate about others fully knowing and loving Jesus and living life in His unforced rhythms of grace. Read more of my writing here.
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