Contemplative Bible Reading

Amos 5:15 (New Living Translation)

Hate evil and love what is good;
turn your courts into true halls of justice.

God is speaking to the people through the prophet Amos. The people have been living corrupt lives. They stole from one another. They went to court for justice. The judges were bribed. They rich stole from the poor.

What is justice? Simple, “Hate evil and love what is good.”

“I don’t like so and so. So and so is sick. Good. I hope so and so dies.”

That’s just plain wrong. That’s just plain evil. We all know that as we settled that argument a few thousand years ago.

“Yeah, but so and so has done me wrong. So and so and done lots of people wrong. So and so deserves punishment.”

That’s just plain wrong. So and so may be evil and mean and a lying, low down, dirty, rotten, something or other. And Christ died for so and so just like Christ died for me.

“Fun” is over. The love and grace of Christ extends to all. There are days when it is difficult to accept that. Please God, help me in my unbelief.