What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6: 8)

"But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others. (Luke 11:42)

The demand for justice in the bible is grounded in the nature of God. (French, p 54) The biblical definition of justice is probably not the definition of justice that first springs to mind. When we think of justice, we first might think of a court of law; a criminal getting what they deserve and paying their dues to society. Justice becomes equal to righteousness, and we associate it with our safety and our security. If the justice system works, we will live in a better, safer world.

The prophets and Jesus, however, make it clear that according to God’s will, justice is not a question of civil or criminal law – it is about equity, fairness, sharing the abundance that God has so graciously provided. (French, p 54)

When we pray “your will be done…” we are truly praying for God’s will to be done in the whole world. We are praying for everyone to have what they need, and we are praying for the strength and grace to be able to be a part of that biblical justice.

I believe God’s will for our lives doesn’t necessarily involve our daily activities. God wants us to be happy, and comfortable, and to have enough. But I don’t think God concerns God’s self with issues such as winning a baseball game, finding out about a job, or even something as important as our health concerns. These things will happen for the better or for the worse. God doesn’t cause them, and God doesn’t fix them. God’s will is that we love and care for each other in the imperfect world in which we live, and that we love God, who strengthens us and walks with us in our joy and in our sorrow.

Prayer for today

Gracious and loving God, help me to remember that you are with me in everything that I experience in my life. Help me to understand your will on earth, and to hope for the time when I will see it clearly in heaven. Amen.

French, Henry F. book of faith Lenten Journey; 40 Days with the Lord's Prayer Augsburg Books, 2009