Dear Church Family and Community,
The earliest followers of God faithfully relied on the justice of God and found peace in it. God’s justice was not limited to the final day of the Lord, when all are held accountable and everything would be made right. God’s justice was not limited to tomorrow as a future hope. No. God’s justice was for today as well. People believed that God was just, because in their present, God was making things right in His eyes.
Furthermore, there was a fundamental response to God being just – God’s people were also to be just because God is just. This was a call, a commandment, and a required expectation for following God. One could not claim faith in God without being faithful in bringing God’s righteous justice into their world. God’s people do a great disservice to God and to the world God is redeeming when they fail to bring justice to the oppressed, the hurting, and all those crying out to our God of justice.
Understanding our God of justice is very important because it is one of the ways God is revealed and made known to us. This week, we will be continuing our sermon series, Miracle: Making God Known by looking at God the Just. Drawing upon Amos’ most famous passage, we will hear from the prophet, the law, and other voices that point us to God the Just. Amos reminds us that because God is just, we are to be just…because God pursues justice, we are to pursue justice…and because God is about setting things right in His eyes, we are to be about our Father’s business.
In preparation for this week’s service, please take time to read and pray through Amos 5. This passage has been pointed to, learned from, and used by scores of God’s prophets to call God’s people to justice. As you read, make a list of people in your life that are suffering. Then, pledge to pray for these people every day this week. It’s a big ask, but it’ll be an even bigger blessing. Our God of justice invites you to partner with Him in bringing his justice into our world. Your prayers are one way we can all do just that!
Last week, we learned about Jesus the Compassionate as we continued our sermon series, Miracle: Making God Known. We learned that compassion is fundamental to how people see and experienced Jesus. Jesus’ compassion revealed His heart and agape love for us. Compassion is where Jesus meets us. We are so blessed because Jesus’ compassion moves Him to act, is made uniquely for each of us, reveals God, and brings us back to life. When we are compassionate as Jesus is compassionate, the Spirit can help us do the same. If you missed hearing this message, please be sure to check it out here on our website, or through our sermon podcast on Soundcloud, Google Play, iTunes, or Stitcher.
I pray that the Lord our God will continue to strengthen and carry you through. May the Spirit always feel present to you.
And may the Lord continue to bless and keep you all!
Love in Christ,
Pastor Hank (Amos 5:24)
P: (717) 561-2170, ext. 104
E: pastorhank@harrisburgbic.org