Read the Bible in a Year (25SEP19)

DAILY REMINDER – Today, September 25’s Bible reading is Micah 1-7.

NEXT DAY REMINDER – Tomorrow, September 26’s Bible reading is Nahum 1-3. May God bless you with the reading of His WORD. 

MICAH’s Introduction 

The book of Micah is named after the Prophet Micah whose name means: “Who is like the Lord?” Micah prophesied during a time when Judah was experiencing economic prosperity. He prophesied against the social ills of his society, and his messages were ones of both judgment and hope. Micah’s book is believed to have been written prior to 686 B.C.  Micah prophesied against Israel’s apostacy but gave them a message of hope about the coming Messiah. Little is known about Micah himself apart from the messages he gave, but his prophecies were just as important today as they were during his time. 

MICAH MOMENT – (25SEP19) “Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, ‘Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.’” (Micah 3:11). Micah was one of the minor prophets sent to warn Israel about her idolatrous and wicked ways. Israel’s leaders were corrupt, and this corruption played a major role in the nation turning away from God. The Lord God, however, was going to send Jesus to make all the crooked paths straight amongst His people. They would no longer be ruled by injustice, but they would see the justice of the Lord and worship His name. The Bible says: “He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Micah 4:3). There would be a day when the nations would see first-hand how true justice is supposed to operate, and they will never pick up a sword to fight one another again.

Micah’s warnings are true today of many evangelicals. There are many who prophesy for profit and preach for money instead of leading souls to the throne of grace. The nation, as a result, has gone astray because of many Christians’ failure to be the trumpet cry to the nation. Nevertheless, Jesus will one day rule here on earth and will straighten every crooked path. No one will be done unjust in His kingdom which will last forever. The prophets of old made sacrifices of themselves to be instruments for the Lord even though it was unpopular. We as followers of Christ should be willing to do likewise, so that we can help usher in the last days’ harvest. Something to ponder...

QUESTION OF THE DAY - (25SEP19) “…And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). The Lord had a problem with Israel’s character. Their ways did not exemplify who He was. They were cheats, liars, swindlers, extortionists, connivers, arrogant, and had an unjust legal system. No one could be trusted. The Bible says: “Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies are the members of his own household” (Micah 7:5-6). Israel was in a sad state, but the problem was that they did not know it. No one was honorable and even when the true prophets warned them, they could not see the debilitating spiritual state they were in. It is one thing to lie to others, but Israel was deceiving themselves as to their true State of the Union.

Many people who claim to be Christians do not model after Christ just as Israel did not model after God. We are in a spiritual state that is anything but Christ-like. We act, think, look, talk, and smell of the world’s influence. But what does God expect from us? He wants us to be just, merciful, loving, humble and forgiving. The Bible says: “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister” (1 John 4:20-21). The Lord expected Israel to model love for each other as an example to the heathen nations just as we are to model love towards our fellow brothers and sisters as an example to the world. If we harm each other, we are also doing so to the Lord, and He will judge accordingly. Therefore, let us be mindful to treat one another lovingly so that we may always show the love of Christ to those around and the world. “’Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:36-40). Something to ponder….

MICAH MOMENT – (25SEP19) “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18-19). Israel had committed great sins before the Lord, but He was going to restore her to a place where her sins would be remembered no more. Jesus was coming to be the Good Shepherd who would lead the nations of the world in the right direction. He would do what earthly shepherds could not do and He would lead in excellence. Israel could not fully grasp the Lord’s grace and mercy over them, but the Lord was going to show them by sending His Son to die for their sins and the rest of the world so that we can all be saved. The Bible says: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Jesus showed the love that the Father has for His beloved children. Whereas sin separated us from God, Jesus’ sacrifice restored us back to the Father.

Aren’t you glad for the grace and mercy that the Lord has shown to us? He forgives our sins when we come to Him in repentance and He throws them into the depths of the sea whose bottom is endless. We oftentimes do not show love to others because we have not come to know the One who is love. Nevertheless, the Lord stands with open arms waiting for us to give our lives to Him so that He may show us the love we could not receive from others. His love is limitless, and it extends beyond our greatest imaginations. The Lord does not stay angry at us, but He shows us the greatest compassion that a Parent can have. Therefore, we show Him our love in return by being obedient to Him as we experience His love that surpasses all understanding. Something to ponder….