“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?” Micah 6:8.(NKJV).
The preacher read the verse from the prophet Micah. Jake shook his head, and stared at his feet. Shame suffocated him.
As a child, he thought himself smart. He'd sneak into the kitchen and sample cookies Mother told him not to touch. He swiped change from Daddy’s dresser.
In adulthood, his dishonesty escalated. Money from the benevolent fund at work, short-changing a client. Not a lot--just enough to aid his lifestyle. Now reality hit full force. A crust of hardness encased his heart. Hopelessness filled his soul.
“What have I done?” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “Justice and mercy? What a joke.” He swiped his eyes. No hope.
“Wait. What did the preacher say?”
He tilted his head, listened to the rest of the story. A story that no man, rich or poor, could meet God's requirements. 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 tilted his head, listened to the rest of the story. A story that no man, rich or poor, could meet God's requirements. 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.
"For someone like me?"
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 hurried down front, fell to his knees.
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 hurried down front, fell to his knees.
"I want to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with the Lord," he said to the preacher.
With his arm around Jake, the preacher listened, then prayed with him. He turned to the congregation.
"This is Jake, our new brother. Please welcome him to the family."
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?