Journey to Jerusalem Day 32

Saturday, March 28 John 9:39-41
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

“For Judgement I came into this world.” This is something we do not usually think of when we think of why Jesus came into the world. We think love, then maybe grace and mercy. Judgement is definitely last on the list.
God’s justice is one of those things that we do not want to touch, at least not for society at large. I always hear “God is love” or “His love is so much bigger than my sin.” My personal favorite is “God’s love is so big it prevents all of us from going to hell.” So where is the Holy Justice in that?
God’s justice and love go hand in hand. The cross represents both. At the cross justice is satisfied by the sacrificial love of God (literally in Christ’s death). For those that believe this image of justice being fulfilled it is a beautiful thing and can be an emotional image. Yet those that don’t should be afraid; but most of the time they aren’t.
When I really think about it, I start to feel afraid for my loved ones that go through the motions or even more so for the ones that don’t believe.
What is even worse is that I am afraid of how they would react to me sharing the Gospel, which is the opposite of how it should be. I should fear for their souls because God is God with perfect justice that will not be hindered.
So, I ask you to pray and reflect with me today because I know I am not alone. Ask Him to renew your heart for those around you. Ask Him to use you as an instrument and tool for His will. Ask Him to remove the fear and give strength to approach these loved ones in earnest conversation.
Christ reflected and prayed before He went out. It is not a bad discipline to copy.

God, I pray you take away my fear and replace it with a steadfast love for those around me—family and friends, and that random person at the grocery store. Make my heart love and ache for these people in my life. Amen.