David Bahn - Reflections

I see three ways beyond balanced scales that justice is reflected by God's people. Justice from the perspective of God is far more than balanced scales. In fact the notion starts with righteousness, which is a matter of faith. Genesis 15:6 is not a one-off. We are counted righteous by faith. And here we have faith expressing itself in three dimensions.

All of this is sustained by those who teach about God's justice. This also reminds me of Micah 6:8, "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Naturally, if everyone lived by these values and behaviors, all of life would be better. In fact the three areas of my life for which I wish justice would be resolved. But the results of this kind of justice are more far-reaching. These values touch far more than balancing the scales of right and wrong.

It is very easy to opt out of helping people in need. Take your pick: too busy. Too tired. Too poor. Too inept. Not really sure what is needed. Maybe sometimes we just don't care for that brother or sister in need. Maybe even within the family of faith there are those we'd just as soon ignore.

But the walk of faith is fraught with distractions, temptations, challenges, and missteps. If we think we can go it alone, we're dangerously mistaken. And if we think others don't need our help to stay on the straight and narrow, we're just plain wrong.

Helping people can be messy. In fact Jesus got really messy when he helped us out. Obviously when he suffered and died it was a brutal mess. But even before that - early on and throughout his ministry he got messy. He consorted with tax collectors and sinners. He ate with prostitutes and people of questionable character. For that he got less respect. He was accused of improper relationships. Bad fellowship. But he changed people's lives by becoming involved.

We're certainly not more important than Jesus! And we've been saved. Forgiven. Redeemed. Made new.

Not everyone can go into every sinful and dark corner of the world. Women may well help other women gain their freedom from human trafficking. Men may do well to avoid those places. But wherever women or men are willing to be less important than they have a right to be, they can have a huge impact in other's lives.

Sometimes the littler things are more difficult to do than the big challenges. But we fulfill the law of Christ when we do the little things just as well as when we do the heroic ones.

Perhaps few Jesus followers actually do cross the line of mocking God. But if James 2:10 means anything, it serves as a reminder that in fact, "there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We all need help once in a while.

Sometimes that help takes the form of sever intervention. Hopefully more often we intervene before drastic action is needed. But the purpose in every such intervention is to restore the sister or brother to the faith and fellowship of the redeemed. And that's the thing we must all remember: ours is a fellowship of the redeemed. We stand on level ground at the foot of the cross.

Those apart from Christ may have great storehouses of self-control. They may train harder, focus more intently on the task ahead, or manage their anger better than others. But apart from Christ and the presence and influence of the Holy Spirit they will not know true peace. Love will never be fully experienced. Joy will be momentary. Patience will have no God-factor. Gentleness will have nothing to do with faith.

Those who have the Holy Spirit, have Christ, and with him the truest expression of these gifts. Self-control helps us display that reality from a heart set free by the One who has ransomed our souls from the wanton abandonment of God's ways.