Day 18: Do What Is Right, Love Mercy
Bible passage: Psalm 89:14; Isaiah 1:16–17; Micah 6:8
A God Who Cares About Justice
Today is Saturday 18th of January 2020. Welcome to Day 18 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Yesterday we prayed for revival. Real revival always changes how people are treated, so today we pray about justice.
The psalmist tells us what God’s rule is built on. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne, and unfailing love and truth walk before Him as attendants (Psalm 89:14). Justice is not a side interest of God’s. It belongs to who He is.
What God Requires
Learn to Do Good
Through Isaiah, God spoke sharply to people who were very religious and very unjust. He told them to learn to do good, to seek justice, to help the oppressed, to defend the cause of orphans and to fight for the rights of widows (Isaiah 1:17).
Notice the word “learn”. Doing good does not come naturally to us. It has to be learned, practised and chosen.
Three Things
Micah puts it in one sentence. The Lord has told us what is good and what He requires of us: “to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 (NLT)
Do what is right. In our own dealings first: in how we work, spend, speak and treat people.
Love mercy. We are not only to show mercy when we must. We are to love it.
Walk humbly with God. Justice without humility becomes self-righteousness. We stay close to Him.
Seek First His Righteousness
Jesus told us to seek the Kingdom of God above all else and to live righteously (Matthew 6:33). His Kingdom is a kingdom of right relationships, with God and with one another.
Where Do We Begin?
The Size of the Need
When we look at the world, the injustice is overwhelming. Millions of people are trapped in modern slavery. There is trafficking, poverty, homelessness and abuse behind closed doors, some of it not far from where we live. It is easy to feel helpless and to do nothing.
Start on Your Knees
The great leaders of the Bible began in the same place. Moses stood before Pharaoh only after he had met with God. Ezra fasted and prayed before his journey. Nehemiah wept, fasted and prayed for days before he spoke to the king (Nehemiah 1:4).
And God moved the hearts of rulers. A nation walked out of slavery. A temple was rebuilt. The wall of Jerusalem was finished in fifty-two days (Nehemiah 6:15). Prayer is not a substitute for action. It is where right action starts, and where God shows us our part.
Three Steps for Today
Pray for those in authority. Ask God to give our leaders a love of justice, wisdom to make good laws and courage to protect the vulnerable.
Pray for the oppressed. Pray for people who are trafficked, abused, homeless or forgotten, and for those who work to help them.
Ask for your part. Ask God to show you one thing you can do: a person to stand up for, a cause to support or a wrong to put right.
Prayer for Today:
Father God, righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne, and You care for all who suffer injustice. Give our leaders wisdom and a passion for what is right. Rescue those who are oppressed and bring their oppressors to repentance. Show me my part. Help me to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with You. May Your Kingdom come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Keep going
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