Devotional: Zeal for Justice Romans 10:1-4

There are a lot of people in America that have great zeal for justice. They have a strong sense of right and wrong. People are angry because of a lot of legal decisions that are made in this country; especially decisions that seem to allow police to kill unarmed citizens. What is going on in our country today?

So, I am reading Romans 10:1-5. Paul writes: “Brothers and sisters my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For being ignorant of the righteousness that come from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness” (vv. 1-3, NASB). Now this statement catches my attention. People want justice, but they are ignorant of what justice requires. Justice is not based on how one feels. Justice is based on the law. People want to feel confident that justice is done, and they are right to feel the way that they feel. So, what is the problem?

In America the school systems often do not have a strong curriculum in subjects such as civics. Thus, people do not know how the justice system works. They easily see that the law does not work in their favor. However, decisions have to be made based on the law as it exists. There are methods to get laws changed, and a lot more energy needs to be spent on getting laws changed than on complaining about a particular ruling.

Paul says that there are people that want to be saved. They want to be righteous. The problem is that they are trying to obtain righteousness in the wrong way. They think that righteousness is obtained by obeying the law. Paul says that this belief is incorrect. The way to be righteous is by faith in Jesus Christ. There is nothing wrong with their zeal. It is just their zeal is not based on truth.

It is my desire that Christians will come to the knowledge of God and his ways. We cannot please Him if we are not going about seeking to be righteous in any other way than faith in Jesus Christ. This principle is true in regards to righteousness, justice, and in so many other circumstances in our lives.

Prayer: Father in heaven, I pray that we will teach your way for righteousness and justice. Amen.