2008-06-19 11:48:00
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8).
What a joy to meditate on God's Word and receive a divine perspective early in the morning as we prepare for the day at hand. One of the great blessings we have is that God has shown us all through Scripture what He reckons as good and how He wants us to live.
Micah was a prophet who served our Lord during the time of the conquest of the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians. Like prophets before him, and those who followed he told the people truths they did not want to hear. He courageously denounced the pagan religious practices of his own people. They worshipped other gods in direct violation of the first commandment.
However they did not necessarily quit believing in and worshipping the one true God; instead they divided their allegiance between Almighty God and the pagan gods. Their accepted form of worship was bringing their sacrifices and offerings to the temple. They had compartmentalized religion and failed to acknowledge the relationship between "religious practice" and the activity of daily life.
Micah, in our daily verse, powerfully reminds them (and us) that God's interest is not merely the act of worship in the Temple (or the church for us). For most this would include our attendance, our praise, our ministry, our offerings and so forth. These certainly have an important place in our worship practice but, God is also supremely concerned with the proper attitude of our hearts which brings about faithful obedience.
Each of the three specific calls to obedience in the daily text are abundantly taught and demonstrated elsewhere in Scripture. I have found that this is a powerful verse to commit to memory and I use it as a guide in my prayer life. In fact early in my Christian life I sang this song set to music, which was a great aid in memorizing this portion of Scripture. The Holy Spirit can bring that wonderful, yet at times very uncomfortable, sense of conviction through His Word.
Today, won't you examine your life in light of this timeless verse?
Are you acting justly?
Do you love mercy?
Are you walking humbly with your God?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, help us not to ignore or reject Your messengers who are faithful to the Holy Word. Though the warnings they convey through Scripture may bring about needed conviction help us to take the necessary steps to correct our doctrine, attitude, or lifestyle so that we please You in all we do. May we be people who act justly, overflow with mercy, and humbly choose to follow You. Amen.
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