09/14/2025 SHAKING UP INJUSTICE
5 Day Devotional
Day 1: Awakening from Numbness
Devotional
In our digital age, we're constantly bombarded with images of suffering and injustice. News feeds, social media, and 24-hour news cycles expose us to more human pain than any previous generation has witnessed. Yet paradoxically, this overexposure has left many of us numb rather than moved to action.
This numbness isn't just a modern problem—it's a spiritual one. When Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan, He was addressing the same human tendency to walk past suffering. The priest and Levite who crossed to the other side of the road weren't necessarily cruel people; they had simply become desensitized to human pain or too concerned with their own priorities.
Jesus calls us to a different way. He invites us to feel deeply again—to let our hearts break for what breaks His. The first step toward Christ-like compassion is simply asking God to remove the calluses from our hearts and help us see people as He sees them.
Today, as you move through your world, ask God to help you notice the people you might normally overlook. The homeless person you drive past daily. The coworker who seems withdrawn. The neighbor struggling with loneliness. Seeing with fresh eyes is the beginning of transformation.
Bible Verse
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" - Luke 10:27
Reflection Question
What suffering or injustice have you become numb to in your daily life, and how might God be calling you to see it with fresh eyes?
Quote
"We've been so desensitized to some of it that it actually doesn't even bother us. Sometimes we see children that are suffering, and it's just like, huh, whatever. We don't even care anymore."
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for the times I've become numb to the suffering around me. Remove the calluses from my heart and help me to see people through Your eyes. Awaken me to the needs of those I encounter today, and give me the courage to respond with compassion rather than indifference. Amen.
Day 2: Anger that Heals
Devotional
When we think of anger, we often picture something destructive—raised voices, harsh words, broken relationships. But Jesus shows us a different kind of anger—one that purifies rather than destroys, heals rather than wounds.
In the temple, Jesus's anger wasn't an uncontrolled outburst but a focused response to injustice. He wasn't angry at people but at systems that exploited the vulnerable. His anger led to action that restored the temple to its intended purpose.
God has hardwired us for justice. That deep sense that things should be fair and right comes from being made in His image. When we feel anger at injustice, it's often a signal that something sacred has been violated.
The question isn't whether we should feel anger—it's what we do with it. Do we let it consume us in bitterness? Do we direct it at people rather than problems? Or do we follow Jesus's example, allowing our anger to fuel compassionate action?
Today, if you feel anger rising within you, pause and ask: Is this the kind of anger that Jesus would have? And more importantly: How can I channel this feeling into healing action rather than harmful reaction?
Bible Verse
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?" - James 2:14
Reflection Question
What injustice or suffering in your community makes you angry, and what specific action could you take to address it this week?
Quote
"Jesus's salty style of anger, it melts and it motivates and it corrects attitudes, starting with our own, usually. Jesus is not immobilized by indignation. He empathizes and then he acts."
Prayer
Father, thank You for the gift of righteous anger that alerts us when something is wrong. Help me distinguish between selfish anger and the kind that reflects Your heart for justice. Guide me to channel my anger into constructive action that brings healing and restoration. May my response to injustice reflect Your character of both justice and mercy. Amen.
Day 3: Beyond Our Bubbles
Devotional
We all live in bubbles—comfortable spaces filled with people who look like us, think like us, and live like us. These bubbles feel safe, but they can prevent us from experiencing the full breadth of God's diverse kingdom.
Jesus consistently broke through social bubbles. He touched lepers when others recoiled. He spoke with Samaritan women when others avoided. He dined with tax collectors when others excluded. Each interaction demonstrated a radical proximity that challenged the social divisions of His day.
The parable of the Good Samaritan powerfully illustrates this principle. By making a Samaritan—someone despised by His Jewish audience—the hero of the story, Jesus shattered ethnic and religious prejudices. He showed that true neighborliness transcends social boundaries.
Following Jesus means regularly stepping outside our comfort zones to connect with those we might naturally avoid. It means recognizing that our tendency to categorize people often conflicts with God's command to love without distinction.
Today, consider: Who are the "Samaritans" in your life—the people you've been taught to avoid or judge? How might God be calling you to cross that divide with Christ-like love?
Bible Verse
"On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"" - Luke 10:25
Reflection Question
Who is someone outside your normal social circle that God might be calling you to build a relationship with, and what first step could you take toward connection?
Quote
"When was the last time you had dinner with the sinner? When was the last time you went out and you looked at your calendar and you said, I'm gonna go out and I'm just gonna get out of my bubble."
Prayer
Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I've stayed comfortable in my bubble rather than reaching across divides as You did. Give me courage to build relationships with those I might naturally avoid. Help me see every person I encounter as someone made in Your image and worthy of love and dignity. Break down the walls of prejudice in my heart and replace them with bridges of understanding. Amen.
Day 4: From Indignation to Action
Devotional
It's easy to be outraged. Social media has made it simpler than ever to express our indignation about injustice with a quick post or comment. But Jesus calls us to move beyond digital outrage to tangible compassion.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the hero doesn't just feel bad about the injured man—he takes concrete action. He bandages wounds, provides transportation, secures lodging, and ensures ongoing care. His compassion costs him time, money, comfort, and possibly safety.
This stands in stark contrast to how we often respond to suffering. We might feel momentary sadness or anger when we see injustice, but those feelings rarely translate into sustained action. We scroll past, drive by, or change the channel.
Jesus challenges us to let our anger at injustice fuel meaningful response. This might mean giving resources, volunteering time, advocating for change, or simply being present with someone in pain. Whatever form it takes, Christ-like compassion always moves beyond feeling to action.
Today, consider one issue that stirs your heart. Instead of just feeling angry about it, what specific step could you take to make a difference?
Bible Verse
"He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."" - Luke 10:27-28
Reflection Question
What is one specific, practical way you could show compassion to someone in need this week—whether relationally, tangibly, or spiritually?
Quote
"You drive past people that are starving, people that are sleeping on the streets, people that are literally struggling in your neighborhood and we just ignore it. You should be angry about it. You should be going, what are we doing to fix this?"
Prayer
God of compassion, forgive me for the times I've been content with feeling without acting. Help me to follow the example of the Good Samaritan, who didn't just feel pity but took concrete steps to help. Show me specific ways I can channel my concern for others into meaningful action today. Give me courage when compassion feels costly, remembering that You spared no cost to show Your love for me. Amen.
Day 5: Becoming Salt and Light
Devotional
Jesus called His followers to be "salt of the earth" and "light of the world." These metaphors reveal something profound about our purpose: we're meant to preserve what's good, bring out flavor in a bland world, and illuminate darkness.
Salt in Jesus's day wasn't just a seasoning—it was a preservative that kept food from spoiling. Similarly, Christians are called to preserve justice and goodness in a world prone to corruption. When we stand against exploitation, speak up for the vulnerable, or simply live with integrity, we're functioning as salt.
But salt is only effective when it makes contact. Salt in a shaker preserves nothing. Light under a bowl illuminates nothing. The effectiveness of both depends on close proximity to what needs preserving or illuminating.
This is why Jesus consistently moved toward suffering rather than away from it. He touched lepers, spoke with outcasts, and entered places of pain. He calls us to do the same—to be the church that doesn't just gather on Sundays but scatters throughout the week, bringing His presence into every dark corner of our communities.
Today, ask God to show you where and how you can be salt and light. Where is the darkness He's calling you to illuminate? What is spoiling that He's asking you to preserve?
Bible Verse
"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." - Deuteronomy 6:5
Reflection Question
In what specific environment (workplace, neighborhood, school, etc.) is God calling you to be "salt and light" this week, and what might that look like practically?
Quote
"The salty anger of the church doesn't spew hate, it spews compassion and mercy. That's what we're supposed to be doing."
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for calling me to be salt and light in a world that needs Your presence. Forgive me for the times I've hidden my light or failed to preserve what's good. Help me to move toward suffering rather than away from it, bringing Your compassion wherever I go. Use me to make a tangible difference in someone's life today, whether through a word of encouragement, an act of kindness, or standing for justice. May my life point others to You. Amen.