Justice That Walks Toward the Pain

"He 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." — Micah 6:8

It’s easy to say we believe in justice when it doesn’t cost us anything. When all it takes is a post, a like, a retweet, we can feel like we’ve done our part. But justice that mirrors the heart of God always costs something. It means moving toward the pain, not away from it. It means standing in the tension, not escaping it.

Jesus didn’t speak of justice from a distance. He stepped into broken stories, looked abused people in the eye, and defended the vulnerable even when it made powerful people uncomfortable. That is not a safe faith. That is a cross-carrying faith. And we’re called to follow Him there.

The laws in Deuteronomy, especially the hard ones, show us this costly kind of justice. God was speaking into a violent, patriarchal world, not reinforcing it. He was protecting the vulnerable where there had been no protection before. And yes, it was costly. The man was held accountable. The community had to face the fallout of sin. That’s what real justice does, it disrupts comfort to create space for healing.

We want justice without inconvenience. But Jesus shows us a better way. His steps led Him to the cross, not away from it. He didn’t just point to the hurting. He put His body in their place.

What if we stopped settling for a version of justice that never costs us? What if we chose to walk toward the pain instead of scrolling past it? What if our theology led us to action?

Reflection Question
Where is God asking you to move toward injustice or pain this week, even if it’s uncomfortable?

Jesus didn’t tweet justice. He touched lepers. He stood between a woman and her accusers. He walked toward the cross. So why do we think following Him will be easy?

Prayer
Jesus, thank You for showing us what costly love looks like. Forgive me for the times I’ve chosen safety instead of sacrifice. Give me courage to move toward the places where healing is needed, even when it’s uncomfortable. Use me to reflect Your heart for justice in a world that often prefers silence. Amen.

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