Thursday, October 30, 2014

Sanctifying Savior

Chapters 6 and 7 of Micah shows us a beautiful picture Sanctifying Savior. In verses 1 and 2 we see God’s case against Israel;  Listen to what the Lord says:
“Stand up, plead my case before the mountains;  let the hills hear what you have to say.“Hear, you mountains, the Lord’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel.
There is charge against His people. God is looking for an ethical response. There are 3 things required by God; He has shown you, O mortal, 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. These same things are required from all Christ followers. We are to be obedient and that starts with conviction to do it God's way and not our own.

 We then see God’s Compassion for Israel:
 “My people, what have I done to you?
    How have I burdened you? Answer me.
 I brought you up out of Egypt
    and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you,
    also Aaron and Miriam.
 My people, remember
    what Balak king of Moab plotted
    and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
    that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”
 With what shall I come before the Lord
    and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
    with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? Micah 6:3-7

 Even in the midst of our trials, troubles, chaos, hard times, and confusion He is compassionate – Each person makes their own decision, and it can cause division in families.

Jesus quotes Micah 7:6 in teaching Matthew 10:32—39: “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—  a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

What is He saying to you today?