How to Turn the World Upside Down: Day Three
Day 3: Justice and Mercy Meet
Devotional
One of the most beautiful paradoxes of the Gospel is how it perfectly satisfies both God's justice and His mercy. In our human systems, these often seem at odds—we either demand justice at the expense of mercy, or we show mercy at the expense of justice. But at the cross, we see something extraordinary. God doesn't compromise His justice—sin is fully punished. Yet He doesn't withhold His mercy—sinners are completely forgiven. How? Because Jesus, the innocent one, took the punishment we deserved. This is the heart of the Gospel message that turned the world upside down. It confronts our pride by showing we can't save ourselves. It challenges our self-righteousness by revealing we all need forgiveness. It overturns our human wisdom by demonstrating that God's greatest victory came through apparent defeat. When we truly grasp this message—that God's justice and mercy have met in Christ—it transforms how we view both God and others. We see God as both holy and loving, righteous and compassionate. And we begin to extend to others the same grace we've received, holding together truth and love in our relationships.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
- Psalm 16:10
Reflection Question
How has understanding God's perfect balance of justice and mercy changed how you view both your own sin and the sins of others against you?
“At the cross, God's justice and his mercy have met.
His just wrath against sin was poured out not on us who deserved it, but on his son,
so that guilty sinners like you and me can go free.”
— Pastor Mike Mura
Prayer
God of justice and mercy, I stand in awe of how You satisfied both at the cross. Thank You that Your justice fell on Jesus instead of me, and that Your mercy flows freely to me because of His sacrifice. Help me to extend this same balance of truth and grace to others in my life. May I never take Your mercy for granted or forget the cost of my forgiveness. Amen.