Children are born with a sharply defined sense of justice. The problem comes when justice is deployed as a weapon of self-defense. As in – “I hit her because she hit me first.” “I took the toy because he had it all morning.”
Yes, justice. Our kids can be all about justice applied to others, but not so much for themselves. If left unchecked the quest for personal justice can ultimately lead to destruction. Feelings that one has been wronged can lead to heart-patterns of vengeance and self-pity. The personal quest for justice blinds your children from seeing their own sin, therefore, from seeing their need for Christ.
The truth is that all of us, including our children, are guilty before the holy God of heaven and earth. Only Jesus, by his substitutionary death for his people, can provide justice for us. Justice is something we cannot demand. This is a vital truth your children must embrace. Instead of using justice to attack others your children should measure their thoughts, words, and actions by how close they come to God’s perfect law.
According to Ruth Younts, “Justice is measuring everything by God’s law, to know and do what is right.”
Here is a prayer to teach your children regarding justice:
Father, you are perfectly right in everything you do. Thank you that Jesus was perfectly right and just for me. Help me to act with justice and to walk faithfully in your ways. Help me to love your law and your righteousness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
These words are true for your children and they are true for you.
Taken from “Get Wisdom!” by Ruth Younts. Available from Shepherd Press.
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