It Starts Small

TO behave justly means acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good. Upright is not a common word used today. Upright means strictly honorable or honest. Have you heard of an upright piano? It’s a piano with a tall backing. Think of upright as someone who stands tall with a strong spine. Standing tall is another way to put it.

Yesterday we looked at the definition of righteousness and concluded four attributes to God’s righteousness. Today we are going to look at: God is JUST in all He does.

Justice is tied to the concept of merit. behave morally corrupt you get punished. Behave morally upright you are rewarded. God is the creator of justice and God is perfect. He does not show favoritism.

Peter began to speak: “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism,

Acts 10:34

Our scripture today, the Psalmist says, God’s judgement, God’s ways, and God’s justice are perfect. In Psalms we read this many times!

Righteousness and justice are the foundation
of your throne;
faithful love and truth go before you.

Psalm 89:14

He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the Lord’s unfailing love.

Psalm 33:5

God is continually telling us throughout His Word to not mistreat people. (See Zachariah 7:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7, James 1:27, 2:1-8) God will enact vengeance in opposition to those who are oppressors because He does not oppress His people, but gives them freedom.

since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you

2 Thessalonians 1:6

Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.

Romans 12:19

While studying God’s love, we learned to love our enemies as Christ does because God’s justice and vengeance is just. God will repay those who are upright, and God will repay those who oppress.

 For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them.

Hebrews 6:10

For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.

Colossians 3:25

If God’s Word is so clear that God is just, why is there so much injustice in the world? We have to go back to the first injustice, when Adam sinned (Genesis 3). Since Adam’s sin, all humans have been born into sin (Romans 5:12-21). God’s perfect justice is no longer perfect on earth because sin is a reality with devastating effects in our world. Yet, He allows the earth and all of humanity to continue because He longs to redeem us and restore us. John 3:16 tells us why: because He loves us so much…

The same Peter who said God shows no favor also spoke to us:

⁸ Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. ⁹ The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed

2 Peter 3:8-10

God is not delaying, He is patiently waiting and giving all a chance to repent and come to Him. Can we grasp the mighty hand of our Heavenly Father? HIs patience for us? We can barely drive to work without losing our patience. Just how patient is our Father in heaven?

Because God is just He is merciful. The final judgment will come. HIs mercy made a way, through Christ, and He patiently waits. He never slacks on a promise. A day will come, until then, don’t wait. We do not know the hour or day, and HIs patience has and end.

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