“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
The prophet Micah wrote at a time when God’s people were living in a corrupt society of their own making. They had turned to idolatry, were rebelling against God, practicing injustice and empty ritualism and generally living lives absent of His commands. So our Lord intervenes with warnings that if they did not turn away from such sin, destruction was inevitable, but also promising hope if they do come back to God and His just laws.
2,700 years later our modern society continues to struggle with the same sins. Evidence is all around us and God’s warning and promises are just as relevant as they were in Micah’s day. The answer is the same, repentance, turning away from sin and back to God, recommitting oneself to the goodness God requires of us. It is incumbent upon God’s people to lead the way in this regard and that begins with you and I. The Lord requires that we act justly and mercifully and do so in a humble spirit before God and in obedience to His Word so that we do not repeat the history of Israel’s failings.
While we never do this perfectly, we have a perfect God Who continues to empower us to such aspirations through the forgiveness of sins and the gift of His Word and Sacraments. Even when we fail, He picks us up and sends us forward in His promises. This is all made possible because God humbled Himself in Jesus, even going to the cross in order to grant us mercy in accordance with His just decrees. Because of Jesus, we can move forward in the grace of God and lend His grace to others as well. God bless us as we do so that we may live in peace and harmony with all people.
Know that you are loved!
Peace and Joy,
Pastor Kilian
