God: Just and Justifier

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
(Romans 3:26 ESV)

God is both just in condemning sin and in bringing the due punishment for sin and yet God himself in the person of Jesus stepped down as the judge to also stand in and take the punishment.

Lord Jesus I pray you continue to work in my heart to understand the reality of both. I think it is exciting and powerful for me and other believers. It is exciting to believe this in a room full of Christians. But it becomes harder to believe as I interact with the world. When I see people who are spiritually lost do I have faith and trust in who God is and his plan. When it seems hopeless that some people close to me would come to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior do I believe this same truth. Do I continue to trust God is good and his judgement against sin is just?

Jesus and the Cross is beautiful for those who believe but what to I believe and feel when people seem to totally or just passively reject Christ. What about my friends and family who seem pretty good? - ( maybe I try to squeeze them in to the part in Romans that talks about having the law written on their hearts)

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. (Romans 2:14 ESV)

This brings up and tests my faith that God is in control and entirely good. For Jesus says he will not lose a single one our Father has given him.

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. (John 6:39 NIV)

God I pray you give me faith to trust what you say that you are good and that you are in control despite what I see around me in the world that might say otherwise. But help me to pray as those believers who came before me:
You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:"'Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.' (Acts 4:25, 26 NIV) for God you can see all things and work them all for your good plans. Lord I pray for myself and those close to me, for students at CU that all those who would believe that together we would turn repent and believe and be saved!

Then humble us to remember Christ our justifier in his humility that we would live patient, joyful and humble lives of love and truth in the midst of a broken world.
Amen