Scripture:
Micah 6:6-8 ESV
[6] “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? 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 oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” [8] He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Observation:
Micha wasn’t really asking a question he was preparing the way for a statement. The beginning of this small portion of scripture was titled… ” What does the LORD require?” And honestly, if you think about it, it’s a valid question. We really need to know that. The next question, so to speak, is to set the groundwork for the point Micha is making. What do we really have to offer the LORD? Micha is saying we could give HIM sacrifice, but what good is it? HE owns the cattle on a thousand hills. The statement is that we can give the LORD all of our possessions and still be short ten thousand rivers of oil. Would not be enough. But what are we trying to compensate for? That’s the real question. What is our heart’s position? The requirements are simple but seemingly difficult. Micha’s point is that the LORD owns all we have nothing to offer. All HE wants is that we love HIM and show the same mercy that we have been given. That it.
Application:
I just recently got my hands tattooed on the back of them. Now I know those of us who are legalistic are going to think that’s a sin. That’s a whole other topic we may get into at some point. But not right now. However, on the back of my hand, I wanted a reminder of what I have to offer to the LORD. So I put “raise my” on one and “empty hands” on the other. My point is the same as Micah’s. I have nothing to offer. In fact, what could I offer to the one who created me? That seems rather redundant to me. I could sacrifice all that I have and still be left with my sin. I have nothing. HE did it all on the cross. What HE requires of us is that we love HIM and show others the same mercy HE has shown us. I’m glad I’m NOT getting what I deserve. In fact, thanks to Jesus and HIS willingness to obey the Father, we get what we don’t deserve. Grace is so amazing.
Prayer:
Father, we have nothing to offer you but empty hands, but we lift them up to you in praise. Our prayer to you this morning is simple. We love you. Help us to show that in how we live. Our very lives have been given to us by you. We are grateful for your mercy and grace. Let us show others the same grace and mercy you have shown us. Allow our lives to be a living sacrifice to you, showing that our love for you is real. Help us to walk worthy of the calling. That is all we want. We want you to be glorified, and since we have nothing to offer, we know that it’s up to you to use our lives to bring you glory. Let us be willing to sacrifice all that we are to become all that you made us to be. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.