By Rev. J. Loren Russell
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? 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.
Micah 6:6-8 NIV
Those who were in leadership were also being held accountable for their actions. Micah speaks directly to them in chapter three. He says that they have taken bribes by preaching and teaching only if they are paid. The hypocritical nature of their leadership caused the Lord to withdraw Himself from among them. They would be plowed like a field and become as a heap of rubble (3:12). Yes, they would be severely punished for their misdeeds. Yet, in the midst of all this, the Lord still had plans to bless, to use and to redeem them. In fact, He promises to make the small, insignificant town of Bethlehem the birthplace of His King. He says He will use them to refresh the world, even as they watch while He dispenses vengeance on the nations who refuse to obey Him.
Based on the things they had done, and the charges leveled against them in chapter three, I wondered what God’s reasoning was for giving them such great honor. In chapter six, God presses charges against them with the mountains, the hills and the strong foundations of the earth as His witnesses. He asks, “what have I done to you?“ then lists the many blessings He has bestowed on them. He was not pleased with their behavior and there was nothing that they could do to redeem themselves. Their burnt offerings, their rituals, even their blood sacrifices would not appease His wrath. His requirement was not in material things. It was not in their self-righteous ceremonies which they thought could earn them God’s favor. The honor God was going to give was based on their complete dependence on Him. They are to walk in Godliness, live justly, do what is right to those in their circles of influence, show mercy, kindness, and faithfulness to everyone. They were to walk humbly with God.
It is no different for you or me. Even in the midst of the turmoil and chaos of today, God has a plan for our lives; a plan to prosper us as a people and a nation, a plan to bless us with a much better and harmonious world. Whatever role or responsibility you might have, He asks of us all the same thing, to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before Him.
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial Strategy & Consulting; an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx; creator & host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook LIVE and author of Matters of Faith: The Book. eBook available at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177
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