"Dear God, I'm Thirsty for Justice!"

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"But let justice flow like a river and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." Amos 5:24 God's Word to the Nations

The pictures that you will view over the next three days are the hands of people who lived through World War II. Two sets of hands are from women whose lives were touched by the war affecting their homes in Europe. The other set of hands are those of sailor and his wife. These hands tell a story of a thirst for justice, wholeness and peace.

The hands you see in this picture are from a woman who experienced a horrific Palm Sunday Eve. On March 28, 1942, exactly 73 years ago this Palm Sunday Eve, The Royal Air Force bombed Lubeck, Germany using both blockbuster and incendiary bombs.

Lubeck was a civilian target. On February 14, 1942 England's Air Ministry had issued an Area Bombing Directive, which allowed the RAF to bomb industrial and civilian targets. Lubeck was the first German city bombed.

Just before the bombing these hands had walked through the city of Lubeck guided by their brother's hands. Soon after that journey 62% of Lubeck's buildings were destroyed or damaged. The deformed bells of St Mary's Church lay where they fell that night as a memorial to the bombing.

The Germans retaliated against England by bombing civilians, and more people died. The RAF attempted to even the score, and still more people died. Where was justice?

For the prophet Amos, justice is paired with righteousness. You cannot have one without the other. This justice and righteousness meet at Jesus' cross. He does what is right, dying with the weight of our sin, and God's justice is satisfied.

Justice isn't found in retaliation and revenge.  Justice resides in God who in his justice has declared us to be right with him. His justice flows like a river, and his righteousness like an ever flowing stream.

Though this world is filled with injustice, God is always just.

Our thirst for justice is satisfied in Jesus.

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You can listen to the Praying With the Eyes broadcast on The iB Network Internet radio station every Sunday at 8:00 & 11:30 am, as well as, 1:00 & 8:00 pm MDT (www.ibnetwork.us). You can also listen to the show using the Tunin app on your mobile device.  

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2015 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.