Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.

Isaiah 1:17

The radical changes Jesus brought into the world could only have been possible through his great love. In fact, generally speaking, probably the greater the love, the greater will be the justice that can be brought about.

Is creating a just society even possible without love?

A key part of being a Christian is to represent Jesus by bringing his love to hurting people. Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”  (John 15:12) When we follow Jesus, we won’t find it hard to love the people around us. And I have found that when I feel God’s love inside me, I can’t help sharing it with others.

Here is an extraordinary phenomenon: The best way to experience God’s love is to share it with others. When you give to others, you will receive as well. The giving and the receiving happen as if in one single motion.

But it’s easy to see hurting individuals, and ignore them. So often we’d rather stay within the safety of our own comforts. When we follow Jesus’ example, responding to others’ needs becomes easier. When we follow Jesus we will find we’re not thinking about ourselves so much.

As we fight injustice Jesus will give us the sensitivity and love we need to feel the pain of others as he does. Jesus looks at a hurting person, sees their suffering, and enters into it with them. When Jesus saw a woman weeping over her dead son  “his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’” (Luke 7:13)

Look around you and identify the injustices in our world as Jesus might. Which of them frustrates you the most? Which do you feel most drawn to change? How could you do so?

Each of us has gifts that could help bring about a more just society. In God’s world all of us have equal worth and our gifts have equal worth. Every one of us can make contributions in our own unique way. Think how meaningful life could become when we serve in this way!

Some causes you take on might seem overwhelming. But don’t let that hold you back. As Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

…and God is always with us—always in charge.

marja