NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Bible Studies for Life curriculum.
Bible Passages: Exodus 23:1-3, 6-9
Discussion Question: What examples of injustice cause your blood to boil?
Food for Thought:
Justice — or the perceived absence of it — has been in the news a lot lately. Riots and protests have broken out over issues of whether police acted improperly in several situations, and “Justice for [fill in the name of the victim]” T-shirts and signs were seen everywhere in the aftermath of each one.
Professional sports have been hit hard with domestic violence issues. One player was suspended then reinstated. Another was suspended and not reinstated. Again, the question was whether “justice” was served.
On the other end of the spectrum are those who are unquestionably innocent — the unborn. As we observe the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision that opened the door for legalized abortion in the United States, we wonder where the justice is for the 56 million babies aborted in the past 40 years.
We want justice. We certainly want others who have done wrong to be brought to justice. We especially want those who have wronged us to face justice. And when we feel that justice has not been served, it makes us furious.
But here is a question: when we are faced with our own sin, our own wrongdoing, our own falling short before a holy God, is it justice we are crying out for? Do any of us really imagine ourselves with fists raised, demanding justice as God judges our sin?
Or, do we pray the prayer of the tax collector: “God, turn Your wrath from me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13, HCSB)
The tension we deal with is that we want justice, but we need mercy.
Grieve for the injustice that prevails in our broken world. Ask the Lord to make you aware of what you can do to seek justice for the unborn, the falsely accused, the victimized. But at the same time, thank God that the justice meted out upon the cross was also mercy meted out upon the sinner. It is only because of mercy that we can work for justice in the first place.
Bible Studies for Life
Bible Studies for Life is a life-stage focused family of resources that addresses key issues in the lives of adults and students. Consisting of four curriculum lines developed for various life and generational stages plus two others designed for deeper study, all of these resources focus on the same Bible passage for each week. Information about the curriculum can be found on the Internet at [http://www.lifeway.com/n/product-family/bible-studies-for-life]LifeWay.com/BibleStudiesforLife[/URL]
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at www.LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.
