Stephen Mattson - On Love and Mercy: A Social Justice Devotional

On Love and Mercy is a devotional that calls us to daily reflection around the understanding that justice work cannot be separated from ones faith and beliefsthat it truly is a vocation. In a time when we are so divided, it invites us to accept the truth that everyone is made in the image of God, and challenges us to love our neighbors as Jesus instructed us to. Living into these commandments can help heal our broken nation and world.

REV. JIM WALLIS , inaugural holder of the Endowed Chair in Faith and Justice at the McCourt School of Public Policy, founding director of the Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice, and founder of Sojourners

On Love and Mercy is a devotional based on Jesus most important instruction: to love our neighbors. Using Christs life and words, Stephen Mattsons writing challenges us to do the work of social justice, and reminds us of its divine importance.

KAREN GONZLEZ , immigration advocate and author of The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong

Stephen Mattson has been an important voice for social justice. His writing continues to inspire Christians to participate in the work of social justice. On Love and Mercy is faithfully rooted in the Scriptures and centers the words and life of Jesus Christ.

REV. DENNIS R. EDWARDS , PhD, associate professor of New Testament at North Park Theological Seminary and author of Might from the Margins: The Gospels Power to Turn the Tables on Injustice

Stephen Mattson inspires us to love our neighbors by emulating Jesus and shows us that justice work is essential to faith.

BEN COHEN , cofounder of Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream

Stephen Mattson invites readers to read, hear, and live out the words of Jesus. He takes us on a journey through Gods heart. This is a great devotional for those who may be straddling the fence in joining God to establish justice on earth.

REV. BRITTINI L. PALMER , prophetic preacher, freedom writer, and communications consultant in Atlanta, Georgia

Stephen Mattson writes with such openness and graciousness, inviting us all to consider social justice in our own lives. He has a way of making social justice and the connection to our faith accessible. Definitely get a copy and let it influence you the way it did me.

CANDICE CZUBERNAT , founder of The Christian Closet

On Love and Mercy helps redirect the many ways that Christianity has wielded power against the vulnerable to the justice teachings of Jesus.

CINDY WANG BRANDT , author of Parenting Forward: How to Raise Children with Justice, Mercy, and Kindness and the childrens book You Are Revolutionary

On Love and Mercy is an inspiring devotional that challenges readers to expand their understanding and scope of what it means to engage in justice in the world. Deeply rooted in Scripture and yet deeply practical and connected to our modern world, Stephen Mattson has provided all who seek to embody love and mercy a powerful devotional to guide our reflection and nourish our souls.

REV. BRANDAN ROBERTSON , author of the forthcoming Filled to Be Emptied: The Path of Liberation for a Privileged People

On Love and Mercy does something unique: It thoughtfully describes a Christian theology of social justice in the format of meaningful, convicting, and prayerful daily devotions. The church needs more resources like this! Stephen Mattson has written an important book to help individuals, small groups, and church communities live just and faithful lives.

KAITLYN SCHIESS , theologian and author of The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor

There have been many Christian books written about social justice but not many devotionals on this theme. This is why Stephen Mattsons On Love and Mercy is such a timely and powerful resource. As a Christian leader who has been involved in social justice for over thirty-five years, I can tell you that Mattsons devotional provides a much-needed anchor for our soul that will sustain us in the midst of the storms of social injustice present in our world today. I cant wait to order this book for all my team here at Connect City.

REV. COLIN MCCARTNEY , founder of various urban-based nonprofits and codirector of Connect City (www.ConnectCity.org)

Herald Press

PO Box 866, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22803

www.HeraldPress.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Mattson, Stephen, author.

Title: On love and mercy : a social justice devotional / Stephen Mattson.

Description: Harrisonburg, Virginia : Herald Press, 2021. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021032839 (print) | LCCN 2021032840 (ebook) | ISBN 9781513809373 (hardback) | ISBN 9781513809380 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Christianity and justicePrayers and devotions. | Social justiceReligious aspectsChristianityPrayers and devotions. | Christian sociologyPrayers and devotions. | BISAC: RELIGION / Devotional | RELIGION / Christian Living / Devotional

Classification: LCC BR115.J8 M386 2021 (print) | LCC BR115.J8 (ebook) | DDC 261.8--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021032839

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021032840

Study guides are available for many Herald Press titles at www.HeraldPress.com.

ON LOVE AND MERCY

2021 by Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22803. 800-245-7894.
All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021032839

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-5138-0937-3 (hardcover) 978-1-5138-0938-0 (ebook)

Printed in United States of America

Cover and interior design by Merrill Miller

Cover image by Janaka Maharage Dharmasena/ iStockphoto/Getty Images

Interior art by xochicalco/Getty Images

All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part, in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the copyright owners.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.TM

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version.

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Introduction

Removing the Stigma from
Social Justice

The term social justice is loaded with political baggage. For some, its a telltale sign of liberal agendas and heretical theology. But many others see social justice as a wonderful thing that in fact reflects the heart of Jesus. Theologian James Cone writes about the spiritual importance of incorporating social action in his critically acclaimed book