“Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.” Habakkuk 2:4
Struggling with chronic health issues, the list is long. Sometimes, I cry out to God, asking why I am suffering. Yet, every day with Jesus He gives me the strength to face the day. Until recently, I worked in pain. My motto’s to keep putting one foot in front of the other. In other words, just keep on keeping on. It was nothing to have to work with a migraine, or a backache, or my knees hurting from arthritis. I would smile and go about my job, no room to complain. I lived for God each day going about His just mission. For example, one night I worked an extra shift, a man came to the emergency room with a few days to live, his pain out of control from his cancer. As we arranged for Hospice to come and care for him, I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit to ask about his faith, to see if he was born-again.
Beloved, the thirteenth characteristic of a born-again believer is one is just or justification. Just is defined as based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair. Justification definition is the act of declaring or making righteous in the sight of God. Synonyms of just being fair, fair-minded, fair, even-handed, impartial, unbiased, objective, neutral, disinterested, unprejudiced, open-minded, nonpartisan. Habakkuk is a prophet from the Old Testament who brings his questions to God. Beloved, do you bring your questions to God. His first question, ” Why do you not judge the ungodliness of Judah?” Habakkuk 1: 2-4. God answers that Judah will be judged by Babylon Habakkuk 1: 5-11. His second question was, “How can a just God use a more sinful people judge a less sinful people? Habakkuk 1: 12-Habakkuk 2:1. God answers that Babylon will be judged also in Habakkuk 2: 2-20. Habakkuk is a just man. The themes in Habakkuk are themes we deal with today, God does he hear our questions and does he answer us. We’re encouraged to bring our concerns to God in Philippians 4: 6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Habakkuk in Chapter 3 ends in praise because the greatest question Habakkuk has is would he trust God no matter what? Beloved, do you trust God no matter what?
Beloved, the thirteenth characteristic of a born-again believer is just.
That night in the emergency room I covered the plan of salvation with this beloved man. He knew who God was but did not have a personal relationship with Jesus. He prayed asking Jesus to be his savior. The time I had with him we were able to go over forgiveness and he forgave a person that he had a grudge for a long time. This was an extra shift for me but God had a divine appointment for me.
Father God, Thank you that you see us as just saints. Help each one of us trust you no matter what we face. Let us be faithful to reading your word. Faithful to prayer. Faithful to take our questions to God. In Jesus name, Amen.
What do you need to do to assure justice is in your life?
This post is part of a 31 day series on the Characteristics of a Believer. I am so glad that you are here. To read all of the posts in this series, click here.
