Justice for All

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just… think about these things” (Philippians 4:8, ESV).

The Holy Spirit moved the Apostle Paul to encourage the small band of believers in Philippi to think about those things that are just. Some translations say, “…whatever is right.” After all, if we’re going to act justly, we first must think rightly.

However, justice has become a slippery concept in our world. Some have said of a just society, “It’s one in which individuals receive what they ‘deserve.’” That’s a bit tricky, as I have noticed that most of us want grace for ourselves but justice for others.

The Bible says a lot about justice. Moses told the people of Israel, who were learning to govern themselves under God’s rule, “You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous” (Deuteronomy 16:19).

Moses went on to say, “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:15). The Old Testament historian who, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote a history of the people of Israel wrote, “Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes” (2 Chronicles 19:7).

Interestingly, we are asked to think about justice. We’re encouraged to think about whatever is just. When we think about justice in our world, our minds tend to drift toward everything we see that is unjust. So how do we think about that which is just? The best way is to meditate on the one from which all justice ultimately flows.

In a world where injustice seems to rule the day and can keep our hearts in constant turmoil, focusing our attention on God’s justness will help keep our minds at peace. Which one of us doesn’t need that?

^{Mark Renfroe and his wife, Amy, have been involved in field missions work for 30 years. Mark served as the area director for Assemblies of God World Missions and currently serves as president and executive director of Compel International, a ministry focused on planting the church where it doesn’t exist.}