WHAT IS REQUIRED?

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

IF YOU LIKE THIS POST PLEASE FOLLOW US, SHARE WITH OTHERS AND PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS AND GIVE US A LIKE.

Translate this site into your preferred language, look for our Google translator in our home page: diningwithjesus.net

Traduce este sitio en tu idioma preferido, busca nuestro traductor de Google en nuestra página de inicio ve a: diningwithjesus.net

One of the most consistent messages the Lord God gives to his people throughout the entire message of the Bible is that the Lord is most concerned about the condition of our hearts. Before we focus on doing the right thing, the Lord calls his faithful to love rightly. In today’s devotional drawn from the message of the Prophet Micah, we hear this core truth once again. 

1 Listen to what the LORD says: “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. 2 “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.

3 “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. 4 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. 5 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.”

6 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? 7 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? 

8 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 6:1-8 NIV11)

Questions

The opening of this message from the Lord to his people calls those who are experiencing the discipline of God to name the way the Lord has wronged his people. 

In verse 3 we hear the questions asked of those who are complaining against the Lord, “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me.” The Lord is calling his people to be clear about what it is that they have to complain about as they come to the Lord. They are experiencing a time of discipline because they rejected the gracious hand of the Lord. They sought to worship other gods and forsake the Lord out of convenience. 

The Lord goes on to remind the people that it was the gracious hand of God that led the people out of bondage and slavery. It was the Lord that gave them the land previously promised on oath to Abraham. And even now, it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that brings his people the promise of the Messiah, the deliverer yet to come, who will lead the faithful away from idolatry and into a true relationship with the Lord. 

With What?

In verses 6-7, the Prophet Micah voices a set of rhetorical questions meant to challenge the idea that anyone can leverage favor from the Lord. We cannot buy the Lord’s affection. We cannot barter and make deals with God. The Lord needs nothing from his creation and all of our efforts to sway his will with our lament or offerings are futile. 

Shown You

The answer to these questions is one that ought to be known by every person who calls themselves a child of God. What we heard in verse 8 is in fact one of the greatest examples of the character and heart of the Lord to be found in the Bible. 

In this verse we hear that the desire of God’s heart for his creation is that we ought to have love for God and love for others as our number one priority. Listen again to the message of verse 8, “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.”

Briefly consider the following elements of this beautiful description of the Lord’s heart: 

Act Justly

Our Creator is a God of justice. Jesus Christ paid the price for our sin and rebellion, thus providing justice for our acts of injustice. 

Love Mercy

The Lord is merciful to us in every measure. We do not receive what we deserve and his patience and love for us is greater than the weight of our failure. 

Walk Humbly

The greatest man to ever live was also its most humble. Jesus Christ laid aside his right as King of Kings and demonstrated the power of a life of humble service to the Lord and to others. 

With Your God

We are invited into a real and personal relationship with God through our faith in Jesus Christ. As we embrace his love, mercy, and justice, we are able to draw near to him in every way.  

Make this the meditation of your heart today. The Lord has shown you what matters most and the more we embrace this truth, the more we will walk in confidence with Jesus. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

Copyright © 2024 Ryan Laden – All Rights Reserved.