Day 6 – Justice, Mercy and Walking with God
Reflect: “How should faith in Christ affect the way we respond to people experiencing poverty, injustice, or exclusion?”
Micah 6:6-8
6With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God?Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?7Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?8He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
James 2:14-26
Faith is proved genuine by what you do14My brothers, of what value is the faith a man claims to have if that faith is not reflected in his actions? Does he really possess the faith that can save him?15For example, suppose a brother or sister needs clothing and food.16If any one of you was to say, "God bless you; keep warm and well fed," but did nothing to relieve his physical needs, what good would your faith be?17So you can see that unless faith gives birth to action, it is dead!18Someone may say, "You have faith; I do practical things." Well, show your faith without positive actions and I will show you that my faith is genuine because of what I do!19You believe there is only one true God. Good! But even demons believe that, and they tremble with fear before Him.20How foolish you are if you need any further evidence to see that faith that does not lead to positive actions is useless.21Surely our forefather Abraham was considered acceptable to God because of what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar of sacrifice!22You can tell from his example that his faith led to positive action. Faith and action were working together. His faith was only complete because of what he did.23This is how he fulfilled the scripture that says, "Abraham believed God and so was considered to be righteous." And God called him His friend because of his obedience.24You see, a person can only please God and be right in His eyes through what he does, as well as through what he believes.25God even considered the prostitute Rahab to be acceptable in His eyes because of her actions in hiding the spies and then sending them away by a safe route. Is that not so?26Therefore, just as a body without a spirit is dead, so faith that is not expressed in positive action is also dead.
Thank you Jesus, that You make us a people who know and live in Your love, proclaim Your good news, welcome the stranger, serve our neighbours and participate together in Your mission. Show us those You are reaching, and give us eyes to see, ears to hear, courage to respond and love for the people around us.