Tag: love mercy
Don’t chase after the miraculous!
Scripture reading for February 19th: Mark 8
Key scriptures for over-comers: Mark 8:11-13 “The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test Him, they asked Him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.” Then He left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.”
After a miraculous feeding of 4000 men, plus women and children with just seven loaves and two fish, Jesus went to another side of the Sea of Galilee. He was met by the Pharisees who demanded that Jesus perform a miraculous sign from heaven. These were scholars of the Old Testament and the very Messiah spoken of in the Law and Prophets now stood before them. He had taught in the temple, and in their synagogues and done many mighty miracles as signs spoken of in the Scriptures. But they refused to believe in Him, instead wanting to be entertained by the miraculous! Jesus sighed deeply in disgust!
Part of our church culture today should read this Scripture and take heed. Some don’t even believe in the miraculous and that is wrong. But others go around seeking the miraculous. They are not satisfied if “the miraculous” isn’t happening where God has planted them. Just as Jesus did not turn the stones into bread or jump off the Temple to appease Satan, He does not do miracles to satisfy curiosity! (Matthew 4:1-7) He only responds to faith!
Observations for over-comers: Beware of seeking miraculous signs! Jesus has given us His Word and Spirit and promises to work with us confirming His Word with signs that follow as He sees the need! “He has shown you, O man, what is good. and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
Simple instruction!
Scripture reading for September 22nd: Micah 6-7
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
The prophet Micah had a rough time during his years of work. Many people heard the messages He preached, but most were very complacent or even became his enemies because the message threatened their comfort zones and called for repentance and change on their part. It is easier to ‘kill the prophet’ than to apply the truth and change! God’s heart was also broken, for He desired a people who would simply act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with Him! (Micah 6:8)
As we read these last two chapters, we see words of Jesus as He walked this earth. Through Micah, the Lord called out to the city to heed His word. As Jesus wept over Jerusalem, the Lord “called out to the city”. (Micah 6:9, 16, Matthew 23:37-38) As Jesus looked for fruit on the fig tree, but found none and cursed it, so Micah stated that he was miserable because there were no “early figs that I crave”. (Micah 7:1, Mark 11:12-14) Micah warned that because of our walk with the Lord, enemies would arise from those close to us. (Micah 7:6, Matthew 10:34-36) Jesus used Micah’s words to exhort the people to love God more than they loved their families’ opinions or religion.
Micah saw the judgment of God coming on a people who were complacent and just going through the motions of religious ritual. He cried out in warning, but few heeded. He saw the earth being made desolate because of the wicked deeds of it’s inhabitants. (Micah 7:13) Jesus also warned of the coming day of the Lord when judgment would come upon those who were wicked! (Matthew 24)
Let’s keep it simple! Let us love Jesus Christ with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves! These are the two great commandments that Jesus left His people. If we do love with our hearts, we will do justly toward God and others. We will show mercy and walk humbly with our God! Try it, you’ll like it!
Keep it simple!
Scripture reading for September 20th: Micah 6-7
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
The prophet Micah had a rough time during his years of work. Many people heard the messages He preached, but most were very complacent or even became his enemies because the message threatened their comfort zones and called for repentance and change. It is often easier to ‘kill the prophet’ than to apply the truth and change! God’s heart was also broken, for He desired a people who would simply act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with Him! (Micah 6:8)
As we read these last two chapters, we see words of Jesus as He walked this earth revealing the heart of the Father and reaching out to lost people. Through Micah, the Lord called out to the city of Jerusalem to heed His word. As Jesus wept over Jerusalem, the Lord “called out to the city”. (Micah 6:9, 16, Matthew 23:37-38) As Jesus looked for fruit on the fig tree, but found none and cursed it, so Micah stated that he was miserable because there were no “early figs that I crave”. (Micah 7:1, Mark 11:12-14) Micah warned that because of our walk with the Lord, enemies would arise from those close to us. (Micah 7:6, Matthew 10:34-36) Jesus used Micah’s words to exhort the people to love God more than they loved their families’ opinions or religion.
Micah saw the judgment of God coming on a people who were complacent and going through the motions of religious ritual. He cried out in warning, but few heeded. He saw the earth being made desolate because of the wicked deeds of it’s inhabitants. (Micah 7:13) Jesus also warned of the coming day of the Lord when judgment would come upon those who were wicked! (Matthew 24)
So, today, let’s keep it simple! Let us love Jesus Christ with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves! These are the two great commandments that Jesus left His people. If we do love with our hearts, we will do justly toward God and others. We will show mercy and walk humbly with our God as He leads us by His Holy Spirit! What could be easier? Try it, you’ll like it!
What Does God Require?
Scripture reading for September 22nd: Micah 6-7
Many people have tried hard to please their ‘gods’. Some live like hermits and take vows of poverty hoping to find favor with God. Others have sacrificed their own children to appease their god. Others have offered extravagant sacrifices and have built extraordinary buildings to try and honor a god. God Himself told the Israelites what He required of them. “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
God makes it simple for His people. His instructions aren’t long and hard or burdensome. They could be easily done by anyone. We do have a major problem, however. It is our “sin” nature. We are sinners at our core and sin because it is our nature. David stated it well, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5) Jesus told a very well-learned Pharisee, Nicodemus, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3) Because of our need of new birth and the inherited sin nature, we cannot ” love mercy, do justly and walk humbly with our God”!
That is why God’s people had been given the law and the sacrificial offerings under the Mosaic covenant. Faith and blood sacrifice helped the Israelites to know God’s mercy and understand His justice. The soul that sins must die. The innocent animal substituted for the sinner’s life and reminded him of the cost of justice before God. By faith, sin was covered and the humble sacrifice of the animal brought humility and the fear of the Lord to God’s people.
Today we have something even better! We have a better covenant made with a better sacrifice! (Hebrews 9:15) Jesus Christ, God’s Son came to earth to demonstrate God’s love for us. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! (Romans 5:8) We are justified freely by His blood shed for us! (Romans 3:22-26) We have been adopted as God’s children and become heirs of God through faith in Jesus Christ! (Romans 8:15-18) There is no condemnation and we are enabled by the gift of the Holy Spirit to walk humbly with our God! God’s requirements are fully met by faith in Jesus Christ who faithfully lived Micah 6:8.
Keep it Simple!
Scripture reading for September 22: Micah 6-7
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
The prophet Micah had a rough time during his years of work. Many people heard the messages He preached, but most were very complacent or even became his enemies because the message threatened their comfort zones and called for repentance and change on their part. It is easier to ‘kill the prophet’ than to apply the truth and change! God’s heart was also broken, for He desired a people who would simply act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with Him! (Micah 6:8)
As we read these last two chapters of this prophet, we see in the verses words of Jesus as He walked this earth revealing the heart of the Father and reaching out to lost people, first among the Jews. Through Micah, the Lord called out to the city to heed His word. As Jesus wept over Jerusalem, the Lord “called out to the city”. (Micah 6:9, 16, Matthew 23:37-38) As Jesus looked for fruit on the fig tree, but found none and cursed it, so Micah stated that he was miserable because there were no “early figs that I crave”. (Micah 7:1, Mark 11:12-14) Micah warned that because of our walk with the Lord, enemies would arise from those close to us. (Micah 7:6, Matthew 10:34-36) Jesus used Micah’s words to exhort the people to love God more than they loved their families’ opinions or religion.
Micah saw the judgment of God coming on a people who were complacent and just going through the motions of religious ritual. He cried out in warning, but few heeded. He saw the earth being made desolate because of the wicked deeds of it’s inhabitants. (Micah 7:13) Jesus also warned of the coming day of the Lord when judgment would come upon those who were wicked! (Matthew 24)
So, today, let’s keep it simple! Let us love Jesus Christ with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves! These are the two great commandments that Jesus left His people. If we do love with our hearts, we will do justly toward God and others. We will show mercy and walk humbly with our God as He leads us by His Holy Spirit! What could be easier? Try it, you’ll like it!