Never Look For Justice But Never Cease To Live It

This morning, while reading the only devotional book that I can ever seem to crack the cover of without gagging, I stumbled over the author's conclusion, "Never look for justice, but never cease to live it."

I think that I must have raised my eyebrows along with a couple red flags, saying, "hold on here, pal...I'm not sure I agree with this one." Never look for justice? Never? Some of the people I most respect in the Christian community live out their faith most prevalently through seeking justice. For oppressed people in other countries, for the hungry, the sick, the war-torn, the child soldiers, the women who are mutilated or beaten, the children trafficking...and you, Mr. Devotional man, are saying never seek justice?

Though it took me a bit to see what he was saying, I think I hear a bit of the kernel he's sharing. He was looking at the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus gets up and says all sorts of crazy things--not the least of which is concerning how we should respond when we're wronged. He reflects on the famous "turn the other cheek" passage and suggests, "every time I insist upon my own rights, I hurt the Son of God; whereas I can prevent Jesus from being hurt if I take the blow myself." I don't think that he was trying to offer any sort of commentary on advocacy or the like, but rather about our individual response to those situations in our own lives. Am I trying to justify myself? Am I always looking for justice for the ways I've been misrepresented, mistreated, or injured? That is definitely what feels natural. I have a hunch that there's some wisdom here and that the way the Spirit will guide us is more towards going that second mile, giving up what you have, taking one for the team. When I try to fight it, other passages roll over me, remembering the servant in one of Jesus' parables, receiving mercy and then showing none (Matt 18), and how we are spurred on with those ancient words of the prophet Micah, to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God. What do you think?