We have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 5—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’   Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
Matthew 5:6

I’ve always been one to want fairness and for justice to come into play.  Before I got saved, the ideals I held said that, if you did wrong, you should be punished.

So, imagine how shocked I was when I got saved and actually started reading the Bible for myself.  A Christian murderer forgiven and used to write most of the New Testament (the Apostle Paul).  I myself am not surprised that I favored the Old Testament to the New. In the Old Testament people got what they deserved—Sodom and Gomorrah burned to the ground; the Israelites were hard-headed and -hearted and were made to wander around the Promised Land until they got it together; even the man after God’s own heart (David) suffered the consequences of his affair.

Needless to say, people should have consequences for their actions. But I understood this in an extreme sense. Talk to me about justice, I could give you the Law. Then talk to me about mercy or grace and you would see me struggle to make the connection between the three.

Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
You rule with a scepter of justice.
You love justice and hate evil.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
Psalms 45:6-7

Mercy, grace and justice…in my mind, there was no way they could mix.  God is a mighty God, a Sovereign God, a loving, caring, merciful, and just God—and He understands the balance between the three.

Jesus is what mercy, grace, and justice look like wrapped up into one.

 And now when I see wrong, I don’t excuse it.  But I don’t try to bring the gavel down so quickly; instead I seek God and ask for His insight.  Jesus died for me, for you, for all of us!  One God to perfectly live among us.  One man to die for the world’s sin.

Where is the justice in Calvary?  An innocent man died for all of mankind.  I am free and I am forgiven and I experience grace because my God said He loved me so much!  He could not imagine living apart from me and so He came and did what only He could do.

Justice?  What we see as just is not often what God sees as just.  God’s justice is seasoned with grace and mercy.  And oh! how thankful I am!  Thankful that Jesus did not stay in the grave.  Thankful that Jesus was given His throne in heaven.  Thankful that Jesus will be coming again.

Justice?  There is a big picture when it comes to God’s justice.  Your situation may not seem fair, but our God is a God of justice!  Seek Him.  Ask Him to show you!  And remember…the battle is the Lord’s to fight.

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Thank you, Lord, for Your awesomeness, Your amazingness and Your never-ending love.  We pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.