Habits of Jesus Day 14: Justice

Justice matters to Jesus! Therefore, justice matters to us. Justice, for the Three-In-One God we worship, was not described here by Jesus as a priestly program for the poor, a special tithe to build a stronger prison or a rabbinical lecture to be attended by the elite elected leaders of the moment.

“For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” The righteous will say, “When did we [do this]?” And He will answer, “To the extent that you did it for one of the least of these, you did it for Me. ” Matthew 25: 35-37, 40

It was a simple plea for which Jesus not only empathized with, but identified Himself as one of the hungry, thirsty, estranged, naked, sick, and imprisoned people who had a stark survival need. He healed and loved and took care of the sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). And He took it even further. It’s simple. Doing right for the last, the lost and the least is the same as doing right for Jesus. It is the same as doing right for God.

So when we give and give generously and give again, and again, it is hard not to feel a little self-righteous. We are commanded to be obedient to tithe and give above and beyond, and we respond. We see the heavens opening up good opportunities for us and closing down the results of what might have been poor financial choices and with relief we realize that He is indeed in control of our finances. We feel sorrow for the marginalized and joy for those groups of people we are able to help.

But do we see Jesus as He asks us to? Do we look at our online bank account, hang on to what we have and don’t see His bigger picture? Or do we mostly see, with pride, the amount of dollars we dare part with?

During my Covid-19 journey, God placed verses from Isaiah 58 everywhere! In sermons, online casual searches for something else, in two devotional books I was reading and praying through … everywhere! So, I finally said, “Okay God, I get it. As You are remaking this world into something new and different from what we have become accustomed to, You are showing me a new direction. More than anything else You want me to see Jesus more clearly in people experiencing injustice and You want me to do justice. Yes, I will follow you in that and walk toward Your heart for this call.”

I want to see more than a program or a group happen. I want to see the justice of Jesus carried out. I want to be free from my own concerns to be the light of Jesus for others. I want to see the tender face and broken body of Jesus in an actual face before me and be the face of Jesus for them.

How might Jesus ask you to be freed, or see need in others and become His hands and feet?

Sweet Jesus, I want to see You in the least of these. Show me how You want justice to matter to me. Amen.