We all have busy and full lives (hopefully of mostly good things), but it's easy to get caught up in your own life, your own drama, and your own habits. It's not in our culture to stop and think about others, but sometimes we need to do just that. When we are in a relationship with God and as we choose to become more like God, we begin to see (or try to see) what God sees. When we interact with other people, we're interacting with Jesus.
We find that it feels good to do charitable and/or "Christian" activities (like donating clothes, reading the bible, going to church, etc.), but God calls us to do more than that. He wants us to live our life for others and to be compassionate to others.
Think: Which is better? A wicked person donating a large sum of money to a church, or a poor person who gives everything they have to help another person? The answer is a poor person helping another person. They are sacrificing their resources, everything that they have to help someone else in need.
We read Micah 6:1-8 (NIV):
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.
Micah is sharing God's message with the people of Judah, who have been rebellious and wicked, and would soon face God's wrath. Micah shares with them what God really wants from them. To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
Do justice (act justly)- God hates dishonesty, lying and cheating. He wants us all to have integrity and to be honest.
Love kindness (mercy)- We are to love others, and be compassionate in our everyday lives.
Walk humbly- Live in devotion to Christ, not displaying arrogance or self-reliance. We are to be dependent on God, and not forget the price that God paid for us.
In more plain terms:
But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
take God seriously.~Micah 6:8 (MSG)
Holiness is more than living life for yourself. It is characterized by a life lived for others.
After we got through the lesson, we had some fun making a poster for us to remember these words.
