As our nation has been filled with fires born out of frustration over delayed and denied justice, I’m reminded of the riots, fires, and frustration that followed the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A member of our church family recently reminded me of the fires of revival that followed King’s assassination. The Jesus movement began to sweep across the nation. So I pray that following our day of grief and frustration will be the fires of awakening again! I ask again for a Grace Awakening across America and the nations.

In regard to protests and the dream in his heart, Dr. King said,

“We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.”

“There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, ‘When will you be satisfied?’ We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.”

Then quoting from the prophet Amos, he said,

“No, no we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty river.”
– Amos 5:24

In calling for justice and righteousness, King was calling for justice for the past and righteousness for the future. Justice in the moment—without righteousness—would mean that the injustice would continue to resurface over and over again.

I like the way Gerald Brooks said it, “Justice for yesterday and Righteousness for tomorrow.”

Justice for the past, righteousness for the future.

Justice responds to the past while righteousness creates a future!

Providing proper justice in a community is the responsibility of civil servants. In the Scriptures, they are called God’s servants.

Providing righteousness in a community is the responsibility of the Church. Righteousness has been provided for by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the Church that has been entrusted by God to display and proclaim the righteousness that is available in Christ.

Father: Grant us—your children—the wisdom to put feet to our prayers! May we PRAY, LOVE, and SERVE in such a way that results in showers of your mercy and showers of your grace! May there be waters of justice flowing like water in our communities, and mighty rivers of righteousness!