When a person walks by the Spirit as written about in Paul’s letter to the Galatians (Gal 5:1-26), we are guided in Christlike behavior that honors God’s instructions to love one another. As Christ’s life is narrated in the gospels of Scripture, we observe numerous examples of what it looks like to love people and act upon God’s interests to meet the needs of others. By doing so, we are making a lasting difference among friends, family, co-workers, classmates, and people in general. It is to interpersonally live out the kindness, patience, joy, gentleness, and peace that speaks about what God has done in our lives. Each individual who experiences a life transformation through Christ must love others, as it is an inevitable outcome of a fruitful relationship that develops between us and God.
We read within Scripture the words of Yahweh Himself about what offends Him concerning Christian behaviors. Particularly among those who go through the motions of spiritual interest without regard to others’ safety, protection, and well-being. Amos 5:23-24 gives us the specifics. Where, in Scripture, the worship of God’s people becomes rejected in the following way — “Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
Notice that the music that could delight God instead becomes noise to Him. By contrast, the music and worship of an individual or a congregation are accepted and fulfilling when done within the context of ongoing care for others. Not just as a mental hope for the well-being of the needy, disadvantaged, abused, or wronged, but by a willful effort to apply restorative action where or as suitable. It is necessary to seek out where there are needs and fulfill them as an act of service and a form of worship even as we appear before God in prayer, with music, song, or benediction.
As there are continued injustices that accompany a fallen world, we as individuals have a responsibility to find them and make a difference where we can. Each person can make a difference through volunteer work, donations, mentoring, teaching, counseling, advocacy, etc. As bearing one another’s burdens is a conscious activity that is not merely an emotional exercise, but a surrounding effort to our being’s entire realm or context. Particularly among those relationships we have. We help as we can in duty and support for people through God who has given us the hope we have.
When God conveys the term “justice” to us, He intentionally allows its definition to emerge for clarity and depth. “Justice,” as a definition, is usually rendered in a bible lexicon as “the quality of being free from favoritism, self-interest, bias, or deception, especially conforming to established standards or rules.” How the term “justice” is used in Amos 5:23-24 implies a refreshing and life-giving effect. That it is preferred over music, song, sacrifice, or religious praise as a ritualistic effort Yahweh often condemned. God requires of us as individuals, and organizations, both obedience and justice. It is a biblical justice that is above and over the significance of worship or spiritual disciplines.
