Micah 6:6-8 - What
can we bring to the LORD to make up for what we've done? Should we bow before
God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and tens
of thousands of rivers of olive oil? Would that please the LORD? Should we
sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for the sins of our souls? Would that
make him glad? No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and
this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with your God.
Micah directed his next words to all the people. He wanted
them to hear the words God had given him to help them understand how to clean
up the sin in their lives. The list of sins that God charged them with included
turning away from him…impatience….making empty promises…. and unthankful
hearts. There was no way to repay God for the trouble they had caused him….he
just wanted them to start over in that moment and do three things. Keep their activities with others fair….show
mercy to all who had wronged them….and walk humbly in a daily relationship with
him.
Micah advice from God translates perfectly for the world of
today. The list of sins is the same….I sure
am guilty of all of them at one point or another. I sure can’t repay God for
the gift he gave me in his son…so I need to concentrate on finding a way to do
a better job of keeping my doings with others fair. I ned to do a better job of showing mercy….especially
to those that have hurt me. And walking closer with him every day and building
a relationship with him like Micah had….can do nothing but strengthen me for whatever
attacks satan has planned in my future.
It is a reminder to me that I am never as humble as I could
be. I was reminded just last night in my amazing Celebrate Recovery group just
how selfish and surface my life is sometimes. My problems …my hurts and hang ups
pale in comparison to the daily struggle God is using to teach my friends how
to cling to him more tightly. That verse in Luke 7:47 reminds me that forgiveness is key to
grasping the full understanding of God’s great peace and mercy. It says…. “Therefore, I tell you, her many
sins have been forgiven--as her great love has shown. But whoever has been
forgiven little loves little." What a great reminder of just how much I am
blessed ….and how I need to thank him more…and whine less.
Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to concentrate
more of the three things you require of me most. Forgive me for the times that I have let the
world blind me from being forgiving….doing what is right…and walking humbly
with you evry day. Take the remnant of
pride and selfishness that keeps trying to make its way back in my life….and
destroy it forever. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment