Evening Scripture
Micah 6
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.
“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?
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.
Listen! The Lord is calling to the city—
and to fear your name is wisdom—
“Heed the rod and the One who appointed it.
Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house,
and the short ephah, which is accursed?
Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales,
with a bag of false weights?
Your rich people are violent;
your inhabitants are liars
and their tongues speak deceitfully.
Therefore, I have begun to destroy you,
to ruin you because of your sins.
You will eat but not be satisfied;
your stomach will still be empty.
You will store up but save nothing,
because what you save I will give to the sword.
You will plant but not harvest;
you will press olives but not use the oil,
you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.
You have observed the statutes of Omri
and all the practices of Ahab’s house;
you have followed their traditions.
Therefore I will give you over to ruin
and your people to derision;
you will bear the scorn of the nations.”
Evening Reflection
Over the course of human history, we have asked: What does God require of us? How do we mortals please a righteous and all-powerful God? There are so many ways we try to please God through our own strength. We try to impress him with our abilities. We worship Him loudly, so we look good to others. We offer sacrifices in the hope of appeasing God. Yet, none of this is what he requires. Micah 6:8 declares,
“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.”
All God wants is our hearts. For us to humbly reach for his hand, moving forward one day at a time, allowing God to gently lead us, reliant on his grace and thankful for his provision. God calls us to embody justice and offer those around us mercy. The Bible makes it simple, but often living out this calling can challenge us.
- Do we show mercy when our patience is running thin? When our loved ones are involved? When we can’t understand their point of view?
- Do we walk with God when tragedy strikes? When our bodies break? When we lose someone we love?
- Do we champion justice when maybe we have been the bad guy? Do we seek to repent when we have done wrong? Are we willing to stand in the gap when no one else is there to offer the grace required for justice to prevail?
Walking humbly with God requires our whole hearts. We have to trust God even when the path forward feels unclear. But the good news is that when we seek to truly do what God requires, he provides the strength we need for the work he has for us. His grace is sufficient to meet our needs!
Evening Prayer
Father,
I ask that you humbly take my hand and walk one day at a time with me. Show me your ways and teach me your paths. Guide me towards justice. Reveal to me when I need to repent, and how I can stand in the gap for the brokenhearted. Allow me the strength to be merciful with my loved ones, my community, and myself. Help me to give out freely the mercy you have so graciously provided for my life and future. Help me to do what is required of me by you, my God.
Amen.
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