Why should I work for justice?

Exodus 23:1-3“You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand. You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice. And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor.”

Amos 5:24“Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.”

John 14:15“If you love me, obey my commandments.”

We should work for justice because god tells us to.

Psalm 19:7-10The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.

1 Peter 1:15-16You must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

We should work for justice because God is just. Those who follow him try to be more and more like him each day, and this includes desiring justice in all situations.

Psalm 58:11Then at last everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for those who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.”

Matthew 5:6“God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.”

Revelation 20:12-15I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

We should work for justice because God rewards those who seek after justice.

Matthew 23:28“Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

1 Corinthians 1:10I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

James 3:16Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

We should work for justice because justice is essential to living in peace. Without justice, chaos and evil will reign.

The world seems so unjust. Will God’s justice really prevail?

Psalm 96:12-13Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he is coming! He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with his truth.

Matthew 16:27“The Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.”

John 12:48“But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.”

Romans 2:5-6Because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done.

Complete justice will occur when Jesus returns. This is his solemn and certain promise.

Matthew 6:10“May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”

Through the work of his Church, God’s Kingdom is advancing in the world now. Though complete justice will come only in the future, we can—and must—work for justice in our own spheres of influence.