Beatitudes #6—Living Justly

Fortunate are those whose lives are characterized by acting justly and by doing what is right! Psalm 106:3

There are two ways we can act justly with respect to the people around us. Both of them conform to the instructions the Lord has given us. Both of them are right in his eyes and beneficial for other people. For both of them demonstrate our love for him and our respect for the value of his gracious work on our behalf. One way justice can characterize our actions is for us to do nothing that would deprive anyone else of the effects of God’s grace in their lives—in this sense “justice” is a negative action. Besides theft of property, stealing someone’s good name and plotting to deceive people are unjust actions. God will not let us slide on this because it dishonors him and violates any claim we make to belong to his kingdom. The other way we can act justly is to restore, or to help restore, something that has been wrongly taken away from someone, someone who has suffered an “injustice.” It might involve retrieving what was stolen or delivering someone from the power of an enemy who is making life miserable. Either way, God is pleased with us when we are just, because it demonstrates our confidence in him and his justice, and it allows him to demonstrate his reliability. As our king, the Lord eagerly waits to act graciously toward us, to show us compassion, to be righteous in his dealings with us as he fulfills his promises to us.

O Lord, my rock, all your ways are just and fair and right. Align my heart and actions with yours so I become an agent of your justice in the world.