Good morning, Lord. You know my Christmas to-do list: presents to buy, cookies to bake, a tree in need of decorating, celebrations to plan. Deliver me from the temptation to give any of these a higher priority than time with You. You are the reason we celebrate–focus my mind and heart on You, and You alone.
God had harsh words for some Old Testament celebrations.
Amos 5:21, 23-24 (NIV)
“I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
your assemblies are a stench to me …
Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
I wonder how He feels about our Christmas activities.
Lord God, flood my Christmas celebrations with justice and righteousness. Fill me with love–love for You, love for my neighbor. May my words and actions be acceptable in Your sight.
Good morning, Lord. Alas, our world is broken. People (and nations) serve themselves, with no concern for those they hurt. Justice is distorted by money and power. Truth is spun, twisted and turned inside out. Save us from ourselves.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20). Come and establish Your kingdom with justice and righteousness (Isaiah 9:7).
Prayer — on the vertical and the horizontal.
Our Father in heaven,
forgive me my unrighteousness as
I forgive injustices from others.
Good morning, Lord. You set the standard. Even when I’m trying, I fall short (and all too often I’m not trying). Give me eyes to see and ears to hear Your Word. Fill my mind with Your wisdom and fill my heart with Your love. Lead me the paths of righteousness and justice. Help me stay right and true.
This is how I visualize justice and righteousness.
Justice (horizontal) is our relationship with the people around us. Righteousness (vertical) is our relationship with God.
And Jesus is the cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:20 (NLT)
Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
Good morning, Lord. You are perfectly righteous and just, I am not. Forgive me for questioning Your ways, for thinking I know better than You how things should work, how the world should run. Forgive me for taking the short view, looking for the quick and easy fix. Your righteous and just kingdom come, Lord Jesus, in Your perfect timing.
On this first Sunday of Advent, I heard these familiar words from the prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 9:7 (NIV)
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
Justice and righteousness–words often associated with Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God. Justice and righteousness–ways we fall short here and now. Eternal justice and righteousness–something to look forward to. 
