justice

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

Has a person ever lived on the earth that hasn’t experienced some level of injustice? Because of sin and all sin encompasses, bad things happen, and injustice touches our lives. We see injustices happen throughout the Bible.

In the story of Joseph, his brothers, who were jealous of him, threw him in a pit to die but later changed their mind and sold him as a slave. They then lied to their father, telling him that a wild animal killed Joseph. A few years later, after Joseph showed the most extraordinary, faithful, and fruitful efforts to his owner, he was thrown in prison because the owner’s wife, who wanted to have sexual relations with him, lied about Joseph when he refused to do so. Joseph experienced many years of hellish injustice yet did not turn away from God. He continued to be the godly man who represented God, that He always was. And if you’ve read the story, you know Joseph’s justice came.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego were four men who served God faithfully but were all almost put to death because of injustice. God saved Daniel from hungry lions in the lion’s den and Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego from a fiery furnace. These are all great stories to read.

I am telling you this because life, in general, is a continuation of injustices, big and small. Yet, if you live in bitterness, unforgiveness, and resentment from them, they will work like a cancer on your spirit, your body, and your mind and emotions. They will regurgitate and recycle your hurts and injustice year after year if you allow them to. But if that is the case, what can we do with the injustices in our lives? Do we bury them, hoping one day we will forget? Not a chance! You won’t forget. But you can handle them God’s way.

If you’ve ever studied the book of Jeremiah, you’ve learned that it was a time when God’s people were highly backslidden. They were forgetting God, serving idols, and living life any way they wanted to. God was using Jeremiah and other prophets to warn them to change, but they wouldn’t. And so, judgment was coming. Some would die, Jerusalem would be destroyed, and some would be taken captive by King Nebecnezer to Babylon for 70 years. God gave those who would be taken captive, instructions on how to live there so as not to make things worse but better. We can read those instructions in Jeremiah 29. There is one verse in particular I want to focus on. Jeremiah 29:7 (NIV) which says, “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” This verse is the key to helping injustice evaporate from our lives.

I’ve often repeated something Joseph said to his brothers after he became the number 2 person in command of all Egypt. Because Joseph prayed instead of being held back and trapped in the recycling of thoughts of injustice, he moved forward with his trust in God and faithfulness to what God had given him to do. When Joseph was finally promoted to his powerful position, he did not use it to punish his brothers and their injustice. Instead, he forgave them and told them that what the devil meant for evil, God turned for good. That is the key to handling injustice in our lives!

If we can learn to lay injustices and problems we face because of them at the feet of God in prayer, we will be able to move forward in our lives while God works mightily through us and our efforts. He will bring justice to our injustices!

I live in a city that has become quite lawless, with crime, violence, and even murder on the rise. I have talked with the Mayor and the Chief of police and pray that God will help them. But most of all, I pray what God told his people before they went to be in captivity in Babylon. Jeremiah 29:7 (NIV) “… seek the peace and prosperity of the city… Pray to the LORD for it because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

God knows how to fix things we could never fix. God knows how to bless us in ways we could never imagine. But He instructs us to live prayerfully and faithfully for Him and then lay those injustices at His feet so that, over time, He can bring blessing that makes those injustices evaporate from our lives. That is how and where we get justice. By looking to our just God, knowing of His love and desire to love, heal, and help correct what was wrong. In most cases, it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen at some point. And that is my prayer for you today! What God said to them then, He says to us today!

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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Timothy Burt

Daily Devotionals and Inspiration to Encourage Your Heart

God Brings Justice to our Injustices!

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