Read Today's Passage
It is amazing that even with all of the pain, distrust, and evil going on around Micah that he is able to wait upon and trust in God. Who among us today has that ability? I know that I don't often show that type of patience and trust. Oftentimes I am quick to try and come up with my own plans when things go south.
I love the combination of legal metaphor and rescue that Micah uses in the middle portion of this chapter. We will be responsible for bearing the wrath of God for our sins. But not the full brunt. We have to deal with the consequences of our failures, but He is coming and the evil that mocks our trust now will be shown that they are indeed wrong.
Wow. Just wow. Comparing the other sinful nations to the form that Satan took in the Garden of Eden? Bold. To be reminded that God will indeed save us and tread our sin under His feet? I think that we all need to hear that. I know that I do.
Showing posts with label Micah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Micah. Show all posts
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Micah Chapter Six
Read Today's Passage
Verse 8 - so powerful. Especially within the context of both the rest of the chapter and the rest of the book so far.
Eat but not be satisfied - a desire for more and more wealth but never have enough?
Powerful sentence here. I know that it was directed toward Israel, but I can't help but see that today, we are still carrying this penalty around with us...
Verse 8 - so powerful. Especially within the context of both the rest of the chapter and the rest of the book so far.
Eat but not be satisfied - a desire for more and more wealth but never have enough?
Powerful sentence here. I know that it was directed toward Israel, but I can't help but see that today, we are still carrying this penalty around with us...
Friday, September 19, 2008
Micah Chapter Five
Read Today's Passage
Today gives the Israelites great hope for the Messiah.
It gives me great hope for His second coming.
Today gives the Israelites great hope for the Messiah.
It gives me great hope for His second coming.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Micah Chapter Four
Read Today's Passage
Wow. This portion of Micah's oracle had to be unsettling to Israel. To know that they would be the woman who was kicked while she was down. But so uplifting to see that one day in the future, God will restore true Shalom to His people.
Wow.
It rings true for us today. As Christians we are that same woman, awaiting the day when God picks us back up. Or are we called not just to wait, but also to seek God's Kingdom here while we await His ultimate salvation? I think this passage argues both.
How about you?
Wow. This portion of Micah's oracle had to be unsettling to Israel. To know that they would be the woman who was kicked while she was down. But so uplifting to see that one day in the future, God will restore true Shalom to His people.
Wow.
It rings true for us today. As Christians we are that same woman, awaiting the day when God picks us back up. Or are we called not just to wait, but also to seek God's Kingdom here while we await His ultimate salvation? I think this passage argues both.
How about you?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Micah Chapter Three
Read Today's Passage
How true. I gave you a link into The Message today. Take a minute and read verses 5-7 How true is this today? We have a lot of pastors and leaders who are full of great blessings and pleasantries as long as the money is flowing, but once it dries up it seems to create within these leaders a new personality. Once the money is gone, we get to see who these leaders really are.
Do you know any Christian leader who is well of financially? How would their ministry look if they were to suddenly lose everything like Job? Would they respond like Job or like one of the pastors in this passage? How would you respond?
I love this passage also for putting out there that God is concerned with justice. Not human justice, but HIS justice. Unfortunately for Israel that meant justice for the entire country. Do you suppose that sometimes when America experiences tragedies that it might be God's justice playing out on us? Or maybe it is just a continuation of the Fall?
How true. I gave you a link into The Message today. Take a minute and read verses 5-7 How true is this today? We have a lot of pastors and leaders who are full of great blessings and pleasantries as long as the money is flowing, but once it dries up it seems to create within these leaders a new personality. Once the money is gone, we get to see who these leaders really are.
Do you know any Christian leader who is well of financially? How would their ministry look if they were to suddenly lose everything like Job? Would they respond like Job or like one of the pastors in this passage? How would you respond?
I love this passage also for putting out there that God is concerned with justice. Not human justice, but HIS justice. Unfortunately for Israel that meant justice for the entire country. Do you suppose that sometimes when America experiences tragedies that it might be God's justice playing out on us? Or maybe it is just a continuation of the Fall?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Micah Chapter Two
Read Today's Passage
The first half of this passage is fairly straightforward. It is a reminder and a warning that those who plan evil and carry it out will be dealt with by God in His justice. It is comforting to me to know that God did care (and still does) about what is on mens' (and womens') hearts and what they do with their lives. And that those who we see as gaining much because of wrong practices, they will be dealt with by God.
The second half of this chapter is where it really gets interesting. There are so many churches, s many Christians that just want to hear the good stuff. They want to bring someone in who will not call them out when they are wrong. Someone who will only promise that they will be blessed. These types of pastors are incredibly popular because "people don't want to hear negative things on Sunday morning. They want to be uplifted." There is a place for being uplifted in Christianity, but if it is not balanced with times of confrontation over how life is being lived, then it is not only an incomplete message, but it is really dangerous. Micah is calling those types of believers here, and as odd as it sounds, it is reassuring to me.
There is deliverance and safety promised to us, but it may not come now.
What did you think?
The first half of this passage is fairly straightforward. It is a reminder and a warning that those who plan evil and carry it out will be dealt with by God in His justice. It is comforting to me to know that God did care (and still does) about what is on mens' (and womens') hearts and what they do with their lives. And that those who we see as gaining much because of wrong practices, they will be dealt with by God.
The second half of this chapter is where it really gets interesting. There are so many churches, s many Christians that just want to hear the good stuff. They want to bring someone in who will not call them out when they are wrong. Someone who will only promise that they will be blessed. These types of pastors are incredibly popular because "people don't want to hear negative things on Sunday morning. They want to be uplifted." There is a place for being uplifted in Christianity, but if it is not balanced with times of confrontation over how life is being lived, then it is not only an incomplete message, but it is really dangerous. Micah is calling those types of believers here, and as odd as it sounds, it is reassuring to me.
There is deliverance and safety promised to us, but it may not come now.
What did you think?
Monday, September 15, 2008
Micah Chapter One
Read Micah Chapter One
It has been a while since I have read Micah. In this first chapter I find it quite interesting that Micah brings his message from God to Israel, yet it is directed at the entire world. Israel is not the only country or people that have fallen into this sinful lifestyle that Israel is guilty of. We here in America today have fallen into the same trap. Don't understand what I am referencing? Check out chapter one in The Message, then come back here...
Read it?
We are just as guilty for having "sex and religion shrines." Legalized pornography freely available, and usage statistics virtually identical within the church as outside. Prostitution freely engaged in, soft-core porn on prime-time television and in commercial advertising. We worship at the altar of illicit sexuality. Sex has become such a primary focus that God and His desires takes a back seat. And look at what happened to Israel because they allowed the same thing to happen. The entire population was condemned for this.
Makes you wonder about how sin affects the people around you, eh? Is there such a thing as sin that merely affects you?
What do you think?
It has been a while since I have read Micah. In this first chapter I find it quite interesting that Micah brings his message from God to Israel, yet it is directed at the entire world. Israel is not the only country or people that have fallen into this sinful lifestyle that Israel is guilty of. We here in America today have fallen into the same trap. Don't understand what I am referencing? Check out chapter one in The Message, then come back here...
Read it?
We are just as guilty for having "sex and religion shrines." Legalized pornography freely available, and usage statistics virtually identical within the church as outside. Prostitution freely engaged in, soft-core porn on prime-time television and in commercial advertising. We worship at the altar of illicit sexuality. Sex has become such a primary focus that God and His desires takes a back seat. And look at what happened to Israel because they allowed the same thing to happen. The entire population was condemned for this.
Makes you wonder about how sin affects the people around you, eh? Is there such a thing as sin that merely affects you?
What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)