Micah 6:1-8 (NRSV)
Read Micah 6:1-8 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 6Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Verse 2Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. Verse 3"O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! Verse 4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Verse 5O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord."
Verse 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? Verse 7Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" Verse 8He has told you, O mortal, 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?
Devotion
Parents know the question, “Are we there yet?” It’s asked even when the questioner doesn’t know where “there” is. In our car, we tossed the youngsters a map so they could plot the progress toward “there.” We’d also make “there” more appealing by describing the wonderful place (which we ourselves had never seen) awaiting us.
Many times “there” is a vision or a dream. Micah shares God’s vision of “there.” God’s vision is grounded in what God has already done - in where God and God’s people have gotten together. God’s vision of “there” isn’t in bigger choirs, longer prayers, a different kind of worship, or a better preacher. God envisions a “there” where people walk in His ways, where all that is required is justice, kindness and a humble walk with God.
“Are we there yet?” No. But we have a God-given picture of where we’re headed.
Prayer
God, instill in us your vision for our lives and for our world. Keep before us a picture of the kingdom you long to establish on earth, a kingdom in which we have a part. And fill us your gifts of grace so that we might be instruments of the coming of your kingdom. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.