One Big Hot Mess

Whenever I hear the word "justice," I always follow the word with "league." As a child, I was constantly watching Justice League on Cartoon Network. It was probably one of my favorite shows. Justice has always had a part in my life, whether it be in the form of cartoons or in the form of punishment for poor behavior.

Justice is fair behavior/treatment. It is getting what you deserve. I always want to see others get what they deserve, but when it comes to me, I often wish and hope that someone will show me grace and mercy. Yet, the world is balanced because of justice. How unfair would it be if someone was punished for their wrong doings and I was given a free pass? Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Life's unfair, I know that. But God isn't. Because He is a just God, He cannot allow for our sin to go unnoticed and unpunished. God provided a solution for us. He sent his son to die for our sins. And because of that we are able to have a relationship with God.

Jesus came to the earth to bridge the gap that separates us from God. He brought peace to the world. In a society where violence surrounds us, it is difficult to live peacefully. Yet, it is our mission to strive for peace in our lives, whether it be in the relationships we have with our friends or family members.

Being a teenager, I have experienced many instances of chaos with my friends and family members. I struggle daily to be selfless in my relationships with others. When I focus a lot of attention on myself, I fail to reflect Christ. I have found myself constantly trying to repair my relationships, in hopes that I can savage whats left of the relationship.

When we are unable to have peace in our lives, we are a hot mess. Let's be honest, the whole world is one big hot mess. We are in war. There is violence throughout societies across the globe. There is tension in the Middle East. There is tension within Congress. There is tension between friends and enemies. But, because we are Christians, we are part of our own "justice league." We are not super heroes, but we are God's disciples who are to carry out shalom in the world. Our mission is to be God's representatives and to bring peace to those around us.

I challenge you (and myself) to take this coming week to forgive those we need to forgive. To take the initiative to repair our broken relationships with friends. We may not be friends with every person we encounter, but by accepting and loving others, we can carry out shalom. Keep each other accountable! Do you need prayer for wisdom in mending your relationships? Ask a friend! Ask a counselor! Ask an officer! We are definitely always here for you guys!