NEVER
NEGLECT JUSTICE AND LOVE
By Susan Slade, PJM
Luke 11:42 (ESV) “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe
mint and rue and every herb,
and neglect justice and the
love of God.
These you ought to have done,
without neglecting the others.
What did Jesus describe as
more important than meticulously following the law and traditions? What are the
most essential elements of following the Lord? Jesus emphasized “justice and
the love of God.” The Prophet Jeremiah quotes Father God as describing Himself
as embodying these attributes.
Jeremiah
9:23-24 (ESV) Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom,
let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his
riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me,
that
I am the Lord who practices steadfast love,
justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight,
declares the Lord.”
To exemplify the qualities of
love, justice, and righteousness is to emulate the character of God. Justice
and love being practiced by His children is what truly brings God great
pleasure and brings glory to His Holy name. Jesus did not say that people would
know we belong to Him by our attention to the details of the Law. He said, “By
this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to
another” (John 13:35 KJV).
Justice and Love – If you
belong to Jesus, you are already filled with His Holy Spirit and are capable of
showing justice and love. Are you diligent to exemplify these Christlike
qualities as you go about your day to day business? Are there ways you can
improve in loving God and loving others? Think of some specific ways to show
love to others this week, write them down, and do them!
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