Day 2: Justice 

Pray

Dear God, make your definition of justice the center of my work. Let me love what you love; hate what you hate. Empower me to carry out this biblical call—to defend the weak, vulnerable, outcast and oppressed. Give me the strength and courage to live out your values, and follow in Jesus’ example. Amen. 

Read

Isaiah 61:8a

Micah 6:8

Luke 4:18-19

Reflect 

As we live out of the awareness that we are God’s beloved children, our values shift. We begin to love the things that God loves and hate the things God hates. Scripture is clear about what these things are: God loves justice and hates oppression and crime. We are called to carry out God’s values through our behaviors. The prophet, Micah, summarizes God’s instructions for life: “to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.” This requires action.

What does justice look like? Jesus describes his own call to justice at the beginning of his public ministry by quoting the prophet Isaiah. He says he has come to bring good news to the poor, liberate the captives, restore sight to the blind, free the oppressed, announce that God has come to save. We see these words come to life throughout Jesus’ ministry, as he defends the weak, vulnerable, outcast, and oppressed. We see it as he brings fullness of life—to all people—through healings, teachings, and relationships. We see it ultimately in his sacrifice that invites every person into new and unending life.  

As leaders in public service, you are in a unique position to follow Jesus in carrying out God’s call to justice. You have an opportunity to defend the oppressed, vulnerable, and outcast. As you make God’s justice the center of your work, you have a chance to enforce what God loves through working against oppression and crime. 

Respond

How do people in your field define justice? What vows did you make when accepting your position? Think through constitutional and statutory rights and duties. Now look back over these Bible verses. How does God define justice? How are these two definitions compatible? Are they different? What are some concrete ways you can use your position to carry out this biblical call?