Jury Duty, Court Cases, and Jesus

I always thought jury duty was something that mostly happened to other people. The notice comes in the mail, you fill out the form, and somehow—miraculously—you’re excused.

Not this time.

After a long day in a Los Angeles courtroom, I learned two things:

1. I was officially Juror #9.

2. I was about to step into a story that held some of the hardest parts of humanity.

The case was heavy. The evidence was hard to hear. Day after day, we sat with the reality that people can cause devastating harm to one another.

And yet—woven through all that brokenness—I also saw something else.

Dedicated detectives. Careful attorneys. A legal system doing the slow, painstaking work of truth-seeking. Imperfect, yes. But earnest. Human. Necessary.

It left me deeply grateful—not just for justice served, but for Jesus, who shows us a better way to live. A way shaped by truth, integrity, compassion, and restraint. A way that doesn’t ignore evil, but refuses to be formed by it.

This verse matters this week because justice isn’t just a courtroom concept—it’s a daily calling. And it’s always meant to be held together with mercy and humility.

This Week’s Faith Habit

Practice holy awareness.

Once a day this week, pause and quietly ask:
“Jesus, how do You want me to live right here?”

Not in the big, overwhelming ways—but in this conversation, this decision, this moment.

This simple habit forms faith by training us to notice that discipleship isn’t abstract. It’s practiced in ordinary spaces, one faithful choice at a time.

May the God of justice guard your heart.
May the mercy of Jesus soften your spirit.
And may the Holy Spirit guide your steps—
so that even in a world that feels heavy,
you walk in truth, courage, and hope.