Author: STANDPOINT360

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

Matthew 5:6 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.5.6.NLT

Satisfaction is given by God to those who pursue justice and righteousness. Justice and righteousness are both used by bible translators in communicating these words of Jesus in the English language. To understand each word a little bit better, let’s look at what scripture has to say:

• Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Isaiah 1:17 NLT

• There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right. Psalms 106:3 NLT

• The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices. Proverbs 21:3 NLT

• Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Galatians 6:7 NLT

• Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. James 1:20 NLT

• Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 21:21 NLT

• But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11 NLT

God wants us to know that He blesses us when we seek to do what is right and just on behalf of everyone with a deep satisfaction that comes only from Him.  Jesus, in a very real sense of the word, is our justice and righteousness before God.  As we live out this truth, we become the expression of everything right and fair in a world that is wrong and unfair. 

Reflection

God loves righteousness and justice.  It brings Him joy.  Come to think about it, there is deep joy knowing I have treated others right and fair.   My heart breaks when I don’t care for people in ways that are fair and true.  There is no satisfaction in taking advantage of people. 

Encouragement

Justice and Righteousness are received best through Jesus.  Our relationship with Him, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, gives us the capacity to pursue of life of justice and righteousness. This leads to a satisfaction that is found nowhere else, but in our relationship with God. 

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for being righteousness and justice in my life.  Holy Spirit, Thank You for guiding me in pursuing a life of just and right living on behalf of myself and others. Father, Thank You for your love of justice and righteousness.  Thank You for the deep satisfaction in life that comes from living this way. 

In Jesus name, Amen

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. When I was prosperous, I said, “Nothing can stop me now!” Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.

Psalms 30:5-7 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.30.5-7.NLT

Any honest relationship has experienced moments of anger in the context of a lifetime of favor.  It happens in marriage, family, friendship, work, and ministry.  There are times where love looks away because the decisions being made are in violation of the relationship.  

King David is describing such a time with God.  He has known the favor of God all his life.  When in alignment with God, he has felt unstoppable.  King David has also experienced taking God’s favor for granted, abusing, and misusing the privilege of it, and making choices that are in violation of the relationship and trust God has extended to him.  

He experienced the shattering isolation of God looking away in holy anger.  King David describes this as unbearable and short lived.  It gutted him. 

Reflection

God’s favor does last a lifetime.  The truth is, it lasts for all time and beyond. It is also true that God’s holy anger looks away, and his favor, temporarily withdrawn, when we take advantage and abuse our relationship with Him and others.  He won’t stand for it. It is not in His nature to bless or encourage things contrary to His character of perfect love and truth. 

Thankfully, God is willing to restore favor as we come to repentance for abusing and taking our relationship with Him and status with others for granted.  

Encouragement

Enjoy the lasting love and favor of God in your life.  Guard against taking it for granted.  Resist using this favor to take advantage of others.  Instead, let the favor of God flow generously through your life to the benefit of everyone around you. 

Prayer

Father God, 

Thank You for Your favor.  I know I do not deserve it.  Yet, as I become comfortable with Your provision in my life, I am more than capable of abusing our relationship, taking advantage of Your generosity, and using it for selfish pursuits at the expense of others.  I do not like this possibility.  Nor do I like the thought of You turning away from me in Holy Anger.  My I keep true to You and Your ways.  I need Your help in this. Where I fail, may I repent quickly.  Thank You for Your willingness to restore.  May all that You generously grant in my life be an absolute blessing to others.  It is sweet joy to live in Your favor, because if flows from Your pure and perfect love. 

In Jesus name, Amen

“I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

John 17:6-19 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.17.6-19.NLT

Jesus takes time to pray for the people God has has given to Him in very specific ways.  We would do well to follow His example with the people God gives to each of us:

• God has been revealed to them by Jesus. At the heart of all of our efforts, is the intentional work of showing others who God is through Jesus Christ. 
• Everything Jesus has is a gift from God.  If this is true for Jesus, it is also true for us.  Jesus shared this with His disciples.  May we do the same with those closest to us. 
• They are God’s:  Jesus recognizes that everyone given to Him in personal relationship belongs to God.  They are part of God’s gift, bringing glory to Jesus.  May we care for those God has given to us with the same understanding. 
• Continued Protection: Jesus prays to God the Father for the continued protection of those close to Him even after He is gone. May we ask God for the continued care and protection over those He has given to us long after our time with them is past. 
• Unity: Jesus prays for unity. Oneness.  The same kind of unity Jesus experiences with Father God.  He wants the very best in relationship for them.  He gives the very best example.  Let us do the same. 
• Prepared: Jesus was intentional in preparing those closest to Him with God’s truth.  He focused them on the Kingdom of God.  This changed their relationship with the world.  While enormous opportunity to expand the Kingdom of God exists, it comes in the context of resistance and hostility from the world. May we be intentional in preparing those God has given to us. 
• Provided for:  Jesus identifies provisions given that will be needed to live this life.  Joy, God’s word, continued protection from the evil one, holiness and truth.  What a list of provisions we are to share with those in our care. 
• Sent:  Jesus was sent into this world by God the Father.  Jesus is continuing, by sending those closest to Him into the world to make God known through Jesus Christ. We are to do the same.  We live in this world as “sent people” to reveal God to others.  We are to send the ones God has entrusted to us to do the same. 
• Sacrifice:  Jesus gives a gift that only He can give. Holiness.  His sacrifice makes us holy.  May we encourage and guide everyone in our care to the sacrificial love of Jesus that makes each one holy.  This may take sacrifice on our part, to draw people into the care of Jesus.  Our sacrifice is aa small reflection of the sacrifice of Jesus. 

Reflection

Jesus shows us in praying for those closest to Him an intentionality of preparation and provision to follow God in all circumstances.  He intercedes for their care.  His life has been focused on building capacity through God in each one of them.  May we do the same with those entrusted into our care. 

Encouragement

Jesus prays for those he lives and travels with.  He shows us the focus, intentionality and sacrifice required to do the same.  Let the example of Jesus encourage and challenge us today. 

Prayer

Dear Jesus, 

Thank You for being so intentional with those God entrusted to You.  Thank You for interceding for each one of them.  Thank You for showing us how to pray and live with those You have entrusted into our care.  May we pray, live, love and sacrifice with a view that is well beyond our lifetime.  

In Jesus name, Amen

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

Romans 12:12 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.12.12.NLT

I like to mix things up in life.  Innovation and creativity excite me.  In uncertain times, this also becomes a vulnerability.  Change for change’s sake usually doesn’t work.  

Paul reminds us to stay the course in three specific ways:

• Rejoice in our confident hope:  Our confident hope is in God through Jesus Christ.  It is about life being restored and made new.  This happens now and it extends beyond physical death in this life. It is about God living out His will to redeem, restore and renew people and creation.  Our confident hope is in God the Father.  Our confident hope is in Jesus Christ. Our confident hope is in the Holy Spirit.  

• Be patient in trouble: We all get into trouble.  Sometimes we bring it on ourselves. Other times it comes from outside of us. Trouble is part of life in a broken world. The initial response when trouble comes is to move quickly and react now.  Paul reminds us to approach trouble with patience. Stand with people in messy situations. Guard against rushed reactions, panic, and poor decision making when in trouble. Lean into patience.  Give time for wisdom and discernment from God. He is with us in hard times. 

• Keep on praying: Continue to spend time alone with God, praying about the hope He gives us and the patience we need.  Talk with God about concerns.  Continue to pray for people and situations that need God’s help.  Keep on praying. 

Reflection

These words are spot on for followers of Jesus today.  Living with the hope we have in God allows us to experience joy in our own lives, while, at the same time, sharing it with others. Being patient in trouble gives us capacity to stay present with others in messy situations that take time to work out. Continuing to pray keeps us focused on God, the giver of life.  

Encouragement

Put Paul’s guidance into practice today.  Take a few minutes with God to thank Him for who He is and what He is doing in and through your life.  Be patient with the people and circumstances that are giving you trouble.  Guard against hasty conclusions and actions. Bring all of this to God in prayer.  Pray with God today.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, 

Thank You for the hope we have in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Thank You for giving us patience in times of trouble. Help us to hang in there in messy situations. Help us to see what You are doing in our challenges.  Thank You for conversation with You in prayer.  Keep us coming to You in prayer, knowing that You are attentive and responsive. 

In Jesus name, Amen

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

James 1:22-24 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.1.22-24.NLT

Confession:  I have been on a “mission” to get something from the next room only to arrive and think, “What did I come in here for?”  It usually happens when my mind is busy with many things and not focused on the “mission.” 

Confession:  I have been guilty of driving while trying to do many other tasks like responding to emails, texts, drinking coffee, eating a sandwich, all hands-free of course!!!, only to drive past my destination. 

Confession: Yesterday, I was tempted to act on something in the name of God in a way that doesn’t reflect the word or heart of God. 

The dilemma I face is how easily I can be distracted and lose focus on mission and purpose, from simple to the most sacred things in life.

This is what the Apostle James is getting at in relationship to God and His word. It takes focused action on our part to listen to God, reflect on what He says, remember what is said, and put it into action in everyday life. 

Reflection

Focused action with God includes showing up in the relationship consistently, being in conversation and prayer, reading and reflecting on scripture, asking for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, submitting my will to God’s will, and acting upon God’s direction. 

Encouragement

Consider a simple confession to God that recognizes our tendency to forget God’s presence and instruction in our lives quickly.  Ask the Holy Spirit to prompt and remind us of God’s word. Check our actions to see how they align with what God is teaching us.

Prayer

Dear Father,

I am the person James is referring to.  The one who comes to You for guidance, and in the course of a short time, can be acting in a way that has no resemblance to Your truth.  I don’t like this.  I am sorry. Please help me.  Holy Spirit, thank You for prompting me to show up with God to listen, pray, and consider the truth of scripture.  Thank You for helping me grow with focused action that reflects greater alignment with God.  I am hopeful because You are faithful in my life.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.