[Originally
posted in a WhatsApp group (JAC) as a daily reading update (reflection)
from each chapter of the Bible]
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"Because of this I must lament
and wail, I must go barefoot and naked; I must make a lament like the jackals
And a mourning like the ostriches."
God is great! Man has greatly
sinned. God's Judgment is great! Micah sees great suffering. His lamentation is
deep!
Nowadays, people don't lament
anymore. They don't even blame God anymore. They don't even curse God anymore.
When they do such things, though blasphemous and sinful, at least, they
acknowledge there's a God in heaven.
People ignore God these days. If
they blame, it's upon the government or the environment! But the similarity is that
people are not taking responsibility. God wants us to acknowledge our sins and
His faithfulness to be saved!
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"Woe to those who scheme
iniquity, Who work out evil on their beds! When morning comes, they do it, ππ π£
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covet fields and then seize them, And houses, and take them away. They rob a
man and his house, A man and his inheritance."
Injustices around us. Those who are
in power mistreated those who are weak. And the weak in turn curse the
powerful. People want power not just to protect themselves from mistreatment,
but that they too can afford to live like others.
I can't imagine how kings conquered
others' lands in the past. We can't do that now. Even in the case of war,
people give back the land they have conquered like Israel giving back the land
to Egypt.
Maybe, centuries later, we may look
back to our capitalism of today, the billionaires of today, and wonder how such
things happened!
Big businesses are becoming greedier.
Rich in money and popularity; unfortunately, not in compassion and charity.
Greed is a vice; Compassion is a
virtue.
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“On the other hand I am filled with
power-- With the Spirit of the LORD-- And with justice and courage To make
known to Jacob his rebellious act, Even to Israel his sin.”
Interesting verse indeed! Micah
denounced all the prophets and rulers. He said they were all godless people.
And in this verse, he was saying that he was not like the other prophets!
Imagine, if someone says, like this,
in our time! A lot of people will label him "Proud"
"Arrogant" "Boastful" etc.
Paul says, "Imitate me as I
imitate Christ." We must live like Paul, like Micah, like, Nehemiah,
to be able to tell others, "Look at the things I do, I am different.
Imitate me!"
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""In that day,"
declares the LORD, "I will assemble the lame And gather the outcasts, Even
those whom I have afflicted. I will make the lame a remnant And the outcasts a
strong nation, And the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion From now on and
forever."
God's Promises even amid prophecy
of punishment! Because He is in control of everything. He does everything not
only righteously but is also for our own good!
In that day! O that day! We shall see, understand, affirm, and rejoice
perfectly!
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"But as for you, Bethlehem
Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go
forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From
the days of eternity."
God has the habit of choosing
unlikely people, stuff, and situations, to work wonders in life!
If we think, we are somebody, that
is a sign that God will probably disagree with us.
I had some juniors who always asked
for my help in my seminary days, and now they are pursuing their doctorate or
pastoring a megachurch outside India. Well, I am still learning humility!
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"He has told you, O man, what
is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love
kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?"
One of the most well-known verses
from the book of Micah! Redeemed People of God should be living like God's
people, rich in righteousness and godliness. Even here, Micah pointed out what
had been missing among the Israelites:
1. To do justice
2. To love kindness
3. To walk humbly with God.
We often cry for justice when we
are victims, and cry for kindness when we are offenders.
What about the other way round:
showing kindness to our offenders, and doing justice to those whom we have
offended. Definitely, we will find ourselves walking humbly with God when we do
that!
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"Do not rejoice over me, O my
enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a
light for me."
What a confession of hope! It's
easy to be bitter in trouble, in failings, in adversity. To be discouraged, to
be complaining, to be envious of others.
Well, this verse is an expression
of hope and trust in God!