“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?
God’s Word shows us who He is and what He seeks from the ones who claim His name. I know and believe that I was born into this world to worship Jesus, to be led by His Spirit, and to honor and walk in His Word and His will. I was born to be His ambassador upon the earth and to call forth Heaven’s purposes wherever I am placed. Through these verses God makes clear to us what He requires of His sons and daughters on the face of the earth.
This chapter in the book of Micah begins with the words “Hear now what the Lord says”. Even today, the Holy Spirit is seeking our attention and our listening hearts, as He did with His people Israel in the past. Chapter 6, verse 2 says “Hear O you mountains, the Lord’s complaint. And you strong foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a complaint against His people. And He will contend with Israel”. He goes on to remind them that He brought them out of Egypt and freed them from a life of bondage that they might live in the freedom of His righteousness as His redeemed. I believe Holy Spirit is addressing the people of God today, during a very decisive time in the history of the nation. We can see “mountains” as the mountains of influence which the people of God are meant to be impacting – the government, media, arts, business, education, religion, and family; and He is calling the “mountains” to hear His voice and align with His will. He is “contending” with His people Israel, the church of Jesus Christ calling them to live as sons and make their voices heard. He is calling us to be salt and light and to make a difference in this world; to be real sons who rule and reign at the top of the mountains with Him!
The cry of the church is “show us what You want Lord”, and “we want to please Your heart”. The words of the prophet Micah in verse 6 of Chapter 6 are not so different: “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He expresses to Holy Yahweh God that there is no offering or sacrifice too extravagant or costly to give to Him, even if it costs him his own precious child. Yahweh then replies “I have shown you what I want from you: justice, mercy and humility.” God is not looking for a double tithe, or for 24/7 worship, or for a 40 day fast as much as He is looking for our hearts. I do believe He loves everything we do for Him, but He is not primarily seeking our evangelism, our missions to other nations, or our acts of general charity, as much as He is calling His sons to love Him and do what is right; to protect the vulnerable, to stand for His righteousness, and to facilitate His justice on the earth. He wants us to live our lives acknowledging that He is God over everything, omnipotent, creator King, who is so good to all, the righteous as well as the unrighteous. True relationship with Jesus and submission to Him keeps our hearts humble before Him, and in tune with His heart. You naturally start to love what He loves and hate what He hates. You begin to yield to His Spirit, and to walk in accordance with His will & His ways, rather than in accordance with the ways of a world which lives at odds with Yahweh God and constantly fights against His ways.
Dear friend, God has not left us in the dark about how we need to live. He is calling His sons and daughters to arise from their sleep and to see how they can be instruments of transformation in the world around them. He is calling sons and daughters to impact their mountains of influence and not be complacent or silent. We have the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and He gives us a voice. Let the Word speak through your life. (God wants to be “God” through you!) Let the holiness and righteousness, the mercy and love of God begin to shine through you. Let justice become what you are praying towards, and the rights of those who cannot speak for themselves. In Isaiah 58:6, the prophet wrote these words from God: “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?” We are all empowered to break the yokes, the injustices of the enemy, which are evident in multiple situations around us. We all have the power of prayer, access to the Holy Spirit, and His divine guidance. Arise, and be who He has called you to be. Be a lover of His justice, His mercy, and one who walks humbly before God!
Minoli Haththotuwa, 29 October 2020
