Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Evil people don't understand justice, but those
who follow the Lord understand completely.
Proverbs 28:5 NLT

Awareness of justice

Justice means righteousness, lawfulness, and
moral rightness, the quality of being true or correct,
the moral principle determining just conduct. So
justice has a moral quality. It contains a concept
of what is right and, therefore, must also have a
concept of what is wrong. Only people who
understand these concepts of right and wrong can
understand and administer justice. By extension,
only those who follow the Lord can understand
justice. Why? Because they subscribe to the
foundational laws of the one who created them.

Thus, as this proverb points out, evil people don't
understand justice. Because they refuse to
subscribe to justice's moral underpinnings given
by God in his Word, they are left to discover their
own truths. As a result, many conclude that there
is no truth. Others conclude that everyone can
have different truths. Both perspectives are
hopelessly doomed. And as a building without a
foundation will crumble, so justice can never be
served without the foundation of right and wrong
as given by God in his Word.

WISE WAYS  What are you using for your
foundation? Where do you get your concept of
truth, of right and wrong?

Prayer:

Today, Lord, teach me the foundational truths about
life that are given in your Word.

(Adapted from The One Year® Book of Proverbs, by
Neil S. Wilson, Tyndale House Publishers (2002),
entry for February 28
Children are innocent and love justice, while most
adults are wicked and prefer mercy.
G K CHESTERTON Delay of justice is injustice.
WALTER S LANDOR)

Scripture:

Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation
of my heart be pleasing to you, O L ord , my rock
and my redeemer.

Reflection:

Would you change the way you live if you knew that
every word and thought would be examined by God
first? David asks that God approve his words and
thoughts as though they were offerings brought to
the altar. As you begin each day, determine that
God's love will guide what you say and how you think.

WOULD YOU CHANGE THE WAY YOU LIVE?

Scripture:

Psalms 17:8 NLT
8 Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide
me in the shadow of your wings.

Reflection:

Just as we protect the pupils (literally, "apples") of our
eyes, so God will protect us. We must not conclude,
however, that we have somehow missed God's
protection if we experience troubles. God's protection
has far greater purposes than helping us avoid pain; it
is to make us better servants for him. God also protects
us by guiding us through painful circumstances, not
only by helping us escape them.