Justice

God, you are so beautiful. Wow.

I came into this DTS enraged about human trafficking, ready to annihilate all involved and counsel and show love to every girl victimized by it. It wasn't until the first outreach that I realized I really had no hope for actually making a difference nor saving these people. I was bitter at the world, at God, and writhing in infuriating contempt and despair. That night, I knew my perspective was not of God. The fire I had for the injustices of human trafficking was beginning to consume me and those around me. Why? Because my perspective of justice was way off.

Basically one of the best sermons of the century
Check it! (simultaneously):
The recording:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76BUB9IchNU
The words:
http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/articles/index.php?view=article&aid=2067

In all honesty, most activists are not fighting for justice. If we really wanted justice to be served, we'd all be screwed. No one is perfect nor good. The truth is, we all deserve to suffer tremendously and indefinitely. I am SO glad God does not give me what I deserve. So what do we desire? Mercy.

God repeatedly shares how His heart breaks over idols and injustice. Now what happens when we make our own forms of justice an idol? Some may seek saving people from their oppression for the sake of looking awesome to the people around them, others for God's approval, and some for their own self righteous satisfaction. Some just genuinely do not want these people to suffer. Yet, why do issues of justice come and go in a couple of years? How do we even define justice? Why does burn out come so quickly and frequently? Where is God in these equations?

Psalm 89:14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.

Proverbs 28:5
Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.

Isaiah 59
We can't see justice in unrighteousness. We are far from God/justice when in sin. God is the ultimate source of justice, and He does desire justice to be done. It breaks his heart when it's not.

Amos 5:21-24
In Amos, the people are going through the "right" motions, but they are despicable to God because He is not actually first in their hearts.

If God is the only one worthy of perfect justice, how do we give justice to God? We give Him what He deserves - what He paid for. As we surrender ourselves for Him, we are filled with the Holy Spirit which leads us into all truth. We can only give out what we receive. We can only receive truth, fulfillment, love, and justice by being filled with the Holy Spirit. We can't serve justice to people out of our own anger and convictions. We can only serve others as much as we can rely on God.

Hurt breeds hurt until we surrender our ideas of love and justice to God so He can replace them with His perfect love and justice. When we make God the priority and not the cause, we are free to love as He designed us to do. From God comes perfect, unending love and reformation.