In Micah 6:8, we read: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”
The preacher read the verse from the prophet Micah. Jake's heart sank. He shook his head. Staring at a spot over the preacher’s head, he felt shame, his faults spotlighted in his memory.
As a child, he thought himself smart. He'd sneak into the kitchen. Seeing no one he'd sample cookies Mother told him not to touch. He swiped change from Daddy’s dresser. He felt important as he got away with his mischief.
Gradually little things grew. Money from the benevolent fund at work, short changing a client. He didn’t take a lot--just enough to aid his lifestyle. Now reality hit full force. He’d created a crust of hardness around his heart and hopelessness for his soul
“What have I done?” he swallowed the lump in his throat. “Justice and mercy? What a joke.” He slumped in the pew, his eyes tearing. “Wait. What did the preacher say?”
He tilted his head, listened to the rest of the story. A story that no man whether rich or poor, could meet the requirements God had put into place. A story of God the Father, sending God the Son, into the world to fulfill the requirements of good, to take the place of sinners for only God is Good. A story of hope and forgiveness and love.
He listened and as he did, God’s Silver Chisel chipped away the hardness around his heart and tenderized it with His redeeming love. He went down front, fell to his knees. He wanted to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with the Lord.
Kingdom Thinking. In the darkest moments of my life, the light of the Lord Jesus shines brightly. Not only to reveal my savior, but to spotlight the cross where my sins belong. The Lord Jesus fulfilled the requirements. With His Silver Chisel, He chips away the hardness of sin and unbelief. He promises never to forsake me. His arms are open wide. Won’t you come to Him? He loves you.
The preacher read the verse from the prophet Micah. Jake's heart sank. He shook his head. Staring at a spot over the preacher’s head, he felt shame, his faults spotlighted in his memory.
As a child, he thought himself smart. He'd sneak into the kitchen. Seeing no one he'd sample cookies Mother told him not to touch. He swiped change from Daddy’s dresser. He felt important as he got away with his mischief.
Gradually little things grew. Money from the benevolent fund at work, short changing a client. He didn’t take a lot--just enough to aid his lifestyle. Now reality hit full force. He’d created a crust of hardness around his heart and hopelessness for his soul
“What have I done?” he swallowed the lump in his throat. “Justice and mercy? What a joke.” He slumped in the pew, his eyes tearing. “Wait. What did the preacher say?”
He tilted his head, listened to the rest of the story. A story that no man whether rich or poor, could meet the requirements God had put into place. A story of God the Father, sending God the Son, into the world to fulfill the requirements of good, to take the place of sinners for only God is Good. A story of hope and forgiveness and love.
He listened and as he did, God’s Silver Chisel chipped away the hardness around his heart and tenderized it with His redeeming love. He went down front, fell to his knees. He wanted to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with the Lord.
Kingdom Thinking. In the darkest moments of my life, the light of the Lord Jesus shines brightly. Not only to reveal my savior, but to spotlight the cross where my sins belong. The Lord Jesus fulfilled the requirements. With His Silver Chisel, He chips away the hardness of sin and unbelief. He promises never to forsake me. His arms are open wide. Won’t you come to Him? He loves you.