When Justice Flows Like a River: How to Live Out God’s Heart for Others - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - November 5
“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” – Amos 5:24, NIV.
I was struck by the pure power of moving water on a trip to Niagara Falls – one of the largest waterfalls on our planet – and other waterfalls along the Niagara Escarpment. A sense of awe overwhelmed me when I learned about the huge amounts of water that flow from the upper Great Lakes along the escarpment and beyond. The water rolls along without failing, no matter what, until it reaches the Niagara River and flows over Niagara Falls. Then it continues, rolling through more of the Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and eventually out to the Atlantic Ocean. All along the water’s path, it nourishes life within and surrounding the water on the land.
In Amos 5:34, the Bible features a powerful call for justice and righteousness. It captures the heart of God for his people: a desire for justice to flow like a river and righteousness like a never-failing stream. Rivers are mighty and constant as they carve paths, nurture the land, and sustain life. By comparing justice to a river, the Bible describes justice as an unstoppable force that shapes our society, nourishing people with the goodness resulting from fair and equitable decisions. The Bible points to a continuous, dependable, and pure flow that nurtures our souls and communities by speaking of righteousness like a never-failing stream.
God’s call for justice and righteousness involves living out our faith in tangible ways that reflect God’s character. It challenges us to speak out against injustice, stand up for those who need our help, and ensure that our actions reflect God’s standards of truth and love. In our fallen world, we’re often confronted with the harsh realities of people suffering from injustice. We need to respond by standing up to evil and working for good by living with intentional kindness. God wants us to strengthen our relationships with him daily, so we can grow in holiness and pursue the discernment we need to make ethical choices.
In Amos’s time, the Israelites offered sacrifices to God and held religious festivals. However, God wasn’t pleased with them because they lacked a commitment to justice and righteousness. They neglected caring for poor and vulnerable people. Amos delivers God’s call to them to focus on what matters more than religious rituals – to seek justice and live with righteousness.
How can we let justice roll on like a river and righteousness like a never-failing stream in our own lives? It starts by asking the Holy Spirit to empower us to do so, and by welcoming God’s love to flow through our lives into other people’s lives. Then we can educate ourselves about the issues of injustice in our world, asking God to open our eyes to the needs around us and show us how we can best help meet those needs. We can speak out against injustices. Some ways we can do so include writing to lawmakers, participating in peaceful protests, or supporting organizations that fight for justice. We can serve those in need in our communities by volunteering. We must also live with integrity, trying to be honest, fair, and compassionate in every situation.
When we think about Amos 5:24, let’s examine our hearts and actions. Are we, like the Israelites, guilty of neglecting true justice and righteousness in favor of comfortable religious practices? Or are we working to make our communities places where justice and righteousness thrive?
Imagine a world where justice flows like a river and righteousness like a never-failing stream. What would it look like? It would be a place where we’re all treated with dignity and respect and where God’s love flows freely through all our lives, so kindness and compassion are every day. This is the vision that God has for his people—and it’s a vision that we can help to make a reality through our faithful obedience to God’s call.
Let’s pray:
Dear God, thank you for using your incredible power for justice and righteousness in pure ways. Please show me the areas in my life where I can be an agent of positive change, standing up against injustice and advocating for those who are oppressed. May the choices I make day by day reflect your love and holiness. Let justice roll down like waters in my life, and let righteousness flow like a never-failing stream through my actions and words. Please guide me in living out my faith in a way that honors you and points people who need hope to you. I love you, God. Amen.
Photo credit: ©Pexels/Johannes Plenio
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