Mercy Justice

        As life goes on I grow in love. I grow in love with a God that seeks to allow me to live a life full of joy and understanding. Christ allows me to celebrate in the good times and the bad. There is not a beat down or wippin’ but acts of mercy and grace from God. He passionately desires to interact and love us in the midst of the terrible things that we do. This should move us to repentance, but we often have hardened hearts formed by culture to be selfish and taught continually receive rather than give. This selfish notion feeds our fallen state of being pushing us toward more resentment and broken relationships; building hopelessness and depression in our minds. We fill voids in our lives with thoughts and things that will not last.
        
        We have established a current culture that often fills void with immediacy, and consumerism. It seems as though the culture is starting to realize the consequences of our “get it now” and “have it your way” state. We have not built up disciplined minds to say no and seriously evaluate the consequences to our tiniest actions. Do I bask in the shower too long? Must I eat food when my stomach doesn’t tell me its hungry? Am I willing to do something for someone that doesn’t directly benefit me? Am I willing to do things that may hurt for for the possibility of growth?
        
        All of our shortcomings separate us from right relationship with God, and right relationships with people. In light of each and everyone of us having problematic relationships we are all on a level playing field regardless or race, class, and gender. This is what demands, and sets the standard justice. Today I was reading some of Exodus, and the account of the Israelite’s fleeing egypt to a hand full of chapters past the 10 commandments. In thinking of how the text flows, there is such a great sense of community. Much of the text after the 10 commandments is all about how one should interact or behave in certain circumstances. All of these DOs and some DO NOTs reflect a greater sense of caring for one another and the community as a whole rather than self. What makes this greater is that the sense of community does not stop within the confines of Israelites, or just within Christendom. We are to love all and care for all even when it is not easy. We are to develop and seek the things we desire for our kids for the poor and the oppressed. We cannot want something for ourselves, and not desire it for the community.

Or can we? Is that just? is it equal?