1 Chronicles 29; 2 Peter 3; Micah 6; Luke 15
Micah 6 seems a strange place to land with all the great scripture reading today. On the heels of Thanksgiving, however, Micah’s question is a good one. He asks, “What shall I come before the Lord with?” (Micah 6:6) He asks this question right after recalling how the Lord had delivered and redeemed them. It is his gratitude that compels him to offer something in return. But, what could be good enough? What could be honoring enough? Micah considers offering 1000 rams. Or, he contemplates, maybe burnt offerings would be better. Perhaps 1-year-old calves? What will please the Lord? He is even willing to offer up his first-born son! Anything!! Micah quickly realizes that none of these are good enough for God. No, our material possessions, our children, or the work of our hands are not good enough for God. God requires the most precious thing about us. Our heart, our soul. That is what God wants. So, what is the best response to him? Micah echoes God’s call from Deuteronomy 12, which says, “to but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
To better understand these offerings of justice, mercy, and humility, we need to look to the Cross. First, justice was served through the punishment and suffering of Jesus. Second, God grants us mercy, washing our records clean through the shed blood of His own son. Finally, Jesus clothed himself in humility. Instead of claiming his birthright as the son of God, Jesus takes on humanity, subjecting himself to death, even death on a cross. I love the way Andrew Murray describes humility. He describes humility as “the disappearance of self in the vision that God is all.” Clearly, Jesus is the perfect example.
Murray, Andrew; Christian Book Series (2003-10-17). Humility (Optimized for Kindle) (p. 47). . Kindle Edition.