In our current political and sociological setting, there is a constant cry for justice. Minorities want justice when they feel their rights have been violated. Women want justice when they are not treated as equals with men. We all want justice; we want to be treated fairly. I affirm this desire in the hearts of people and their efforts to secure the justice they seek.
However, this discussion raises a more relevant question. As a man who claims to be pursuing God, how just am I? Do I exemplify justice, not from the world’s perspective, but do I live up to what God defines as just and right? This question is vital for two reasons. One, I should not demand justice from others if I am not living a just and upright life myself. Secondly, since God calls us to be just and upright in our dealings, it stands to reason that failure to do so tarnishes the name of Jesus in the minds of those who are watching my actions.
This truth must drive us to consider what God would identify as a man who lives justly. There are two steps necessary in meeting God’s call to be just. The first is totally the responsibility of God. There comes a time in our life when we, in an act of faith, need to admit that our sin is separating us from a holy God, and we confess and repent of that sin. We refer to this as our salvation. At that moment, we become just, or stand justified before God. In other words, God sees me “just as if I’d” never sinned. The blood of Jesus has forgiven and covered my sin, so God sees only the holiness of Jesus when he looks at me. I could never have earned this on my own. This is referred to as being positionally just.
It is then our responsibility to live in this truth in our daily lives. We must strive to become outwardly what God has made us to be inwardly. This is called being experientially just. Again, we don’t achieve this in our own strength, but by applying the Fruit of God’s Holy Spirit in every situation of life. In simplest terms, God calls us to do the right thing in every situation. Not what seems right in our own eyes, but what he has declared to be right in his Word.
Our responsibility in every moment of every day is to have the mind of Christ in deciding how we react and respond to others. This is true of our family relationships, our work environment, our friends, and even those with whom we have conflict.
The Apostle Paul reminds us of the equipment we have been given in our spiritual toolbox to allow this to happen. Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. These are not qualities we must search for; these are characteristics that are imbedded in our lives when the Holy Spirit takes control at our salvation. It is like an artist who is given a clean canvas, a full array of brushes, and a palette of every color imaginable. Everything needed to produce a beautiful work of art is in his possession, he must now use that equipment to paint a magnificent picture.
A practical application for our desire to live a just life may be this; when my children are causing stress and I want to react in anger, I choose the color of forbearance (patience), and the brush of self-control and deal with them in love. If my boss or coworker is causing stress, in stead of lashing out, I allow God’s Spirit to bring his peace to my emotions, and I meet their unkindness with gentleness and joy. This requires us to discipline our lives to think before we react.
Like the painter with the all the materials he needs, the masterpiece of being just in all our dealings may take some practice. There may be failures along the way. However, we won’t meet God’s expectation of offering justice in our lives until we make the commitment to pursue this with our whole hearts. When we do, our lives become more comfortable, and God is honored.