justice for a righteous God

In the same few verses of Scripture where God expresses His everlasting love (Romans 8:31-35) He reminds us of His perfection through His justice, therefore strengthening us and solidifying our hope.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any change against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died...more than that, who was raised... who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?"- Romans 8:31-35

There is so much beauty in those verse, Verse 33 says: "Who shall bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?" This rhetorical question is meant to have an answer of: no one. This is great news for us...the fact that no one can make the charges stick is a gracious and merciful fact; and we have God to thank for that. "It is God who justifies". He is a God of peace, and there will one day be peace. But as of right now, persecution is real and palpable. In the past week there has been immense grief over acts of terror, pain, and suffering because evil is real. This is the part where Jesus steps in and is great to say that He justifies. This does not mean that we need to get excited about revenge for those who fight of the enemy, but that we rejoice in the knowledge of Christ being lifted up and restoration of Christ followers in Jesus' name. Also, not only do we know that God will lift us up; we also know that no one else can drag us down. And there are four reasons why no one else can condemn us. Firstly, Christ Jesus died. Secondly, He was raised. Thirdly, Jesus is at the right hand of God. And fourthly, He intercedes for us. There is no appeal against God. Interceding means that Jesus sees us. That is a priceless gift and honor we have that we will never be able to comprehend. He graciously bends down to listen to us (Psalm 116:2) and keeps us from the evil one (John 17:15-17). Through Jesus Christ no one can condemn us and His love is always out of justice and peace.

vessels

As Christ followers, the church is responsible for how we represent God. It isn't a simple task, but people's futures and hopes are on our backs. The great thing is, we don't have to do the heavy lifting. Jesus lives in us, therefore we have the privilege of owning the greatest job in the world. His plan is to basically carry us through it while we honor and glorify Him. We are a vessel unto the greatest King, and how we are used depends on our willingness and vision. Jesus is seen through the people of God who spend time with Him, extol Him, and love others. John 13 has been hitting me lately. Verses 34 and 35 say, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." The word love is used four times, so I'd consider it important. Our compassion and love is a mighty tool that can be used for magnifying Jesus; love and compassion are not weaknesses or vulnerabilities. This love is seen and shines best when we are willing to be servants, that is, get on our knees and be willing to scrub people's feet (also in John 13). God uses us just as He did Jesus...he was a vessel. Jesus was God in the flesh. We are Jesus' descendants; that's a big deal to me. Jesus lives in us.
God uses His faithful church in countless ways, and usually we do not pay attention to it. In other words Jesus cannot help but come out of us, to others, when we interact. God is an "all consuming fire" (Hebrews 12), and He wants all of us. As He takes over our lives, we get the honor of experiencing Him, and other believers will be driven by this passion as well. Although we are empty handed as vessels, we are most definitely not forsaken.