In God, justice and mercy are united
Isaiah wrote: “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord…he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted” (Is 11). The “fear of the Lord” in the heart of Jesus is part of his warm and loving relationship with his Father. His was a spirit of reverence and awe in the glory of the Father.
The holiness of his Father shows itself in the justice and mercy of God. Moreover, in God, justice and mercy are united. God’s justice is nowhere more evident than in his outreach to the poor and afflicted. No one is more poor and afflicted than a sinner trapped in sin. It is precisely when he reaches out to the sinner that God shows his justice, his mercy and his holiness. We can see the spirit of God most clearly in Jesus. We receive the spirit of God most readily through our union with Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, give me wisdom and understanding, counsel and strength, knowledge and reverential love for you and your Father. Reach out and set me free.