Justice

Jesus tells his disciples the story of the persistent widow to encourage them “to always pray and not give up.” We are not always told the meaning of one of Jesus’s teachings so clearly; yet even in its clearest, simplest form, this teaching can be difficult to follow. Many obstacles attempt to deter us from persistent prayer. Ultimately, Jesus’s encouragement “to always pray and not give up” is an invitation to abide in God’s presence. Unlike the unjust judge, the Lord hears our prayers in love, and His faithfulness sustains us through all the injustice we suffer on Earth.

Esther is a story of reversals, but never more so than in the story’s final twist. In a moment of political intrigue, Esther devises one final counter-decree to secure her people’s future. This moment points us to Jesus Christ, who was God’s counter-decree of love in the face of the powers of death and despair.

This episode is the heart of the Esther story and it has it all: Suspended suspense, intense irony, a dramatic reversal of fortune, and dark humor. While it reads like a made-for-TV drama, our entertainment isn’t it’s primary aim. This story for the ages offers timeless lessons to help us navigate with bravery and grace the drama of our own lives.

While an ancient tale, Noah’s Ark is a timeless account of the promises of an immortal God in the face of mortal suffering and fear.

Paul’s only strictly personal letter, Philemon, tells us about not only his heart for justice, but also the gospel’s heart for justice. Our faith must arc, like the Bible itself, ever toward a more radical ethic of freedom and love for the other.

The power of grace does not eras our past, but rather re-forms it, transforming who we were into who we are called to be. Free from shame and redeemed by God’s undying love, the chorus of scripture’s song is that there are no lost causes with God.