Three years ago, I told Bev that I wanted to replace the tiny chip of diamond that I had bought for her when we were engaged to marry back in 1974. The jewelry store advertised a day when they would have hundreds of diamonds on display. After selecting the stone, a setting could be chosen and the ring prepared by an artisan on site. That day was so much fun! We looked at diamonds, finally selecting one that represented our love. We went off to have lunch and returned for the final fitting. What a wonderful memory, but my love for her was not really grounded in grand gestures like that. Bev was delighted by that diamond, but she felt my love best in daily concern for her well-being, in my fidelity, and our shared life.
Our relationship with God is illustrated by marriage repeatedly in the Scripture. Christ loves the Church His bride. And, one lesson is that our devotion to Him cannot be based in an occasional grand gesture! We love Him best by serving Him faithfully each day. Micah challenged the people of the Lord to think about their devotion. The text is well-known. "What can we bring to the Lord? What kind of offerings should we give him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Fear the Lord if you are wise!" (Micah 6:6-9, NLT) The Lord is not looking for us to give large sums of money or engage in an occasional act of great suffering for Him. He is delighted when we act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with Him.
Do you love to do the right thing?
A holy life grows out of love for Him. I loved Bev more than myself. Going home to her, caring for her, spending time with her, keeping the vows of our marriage was not a hard thing to do. Love made the care of our marriage a joyous priority. Do you love God in such a way that His ways are your first choice?
A holy life grows out of love for Him. I loved Bev more than myself. Going home to her, caring for her, spending time with her, keeping the vows of our marriage was not a hard thing to do. Love made the care of our marriage a joyous priority. Do you love God in such a way that His ways are your first choice?
Do you find your heart full of mercy towards others or are you hard, selfish, and accusatory?
God delights in us when we are like Him: merciful and kind. He is a good Father. He pursues those who are straying, offers salvation to sinners at great cost to Himself – and does it at His own initiative! No one and nothing compels Him. He wants us to live in the same manner and we show love to Him when we love our brothers.
God delights in us when we are like Him: merciful and kind. He is a good Father. He pursues those who are straying, offers salvation to sinners at great cost to Himself – and does it at His own initiative! No one and nothing compels Him. He wants us to live in the same manner and we show love to Him when we love our brothers.
Do you seek Him each day, wanting to know His plan, fulfilled most by discovery of His purposes?
That is what it means to ‘walk humbly.’ Pride is the root of sin, insistence that we can make our own way, serve our own agenda, and live without Him. God says that He hates (strong word) evil "with a passion,” and He defines the core of it as “pride and arrogance and crooked talk." (Proverbs 8:13, The Message)
That is what it means to ‘walk humbly.’ Pride is the root of sin, insistence that we can make our own way, serve our own agenda, and live without Him. God says that He hates (strong word) evil "with a passion,” and He defines the core of it as “pride and arrogance and crooked talk." (Proverbs 8:13, The Message)
On this Monday morning, approach Him with renewed devotion. If you have slipped into a Christianity built around an occasional grand gesture, a Sunday-only display of worship, a large check written to replace daily generosity – turn to Him with repentance. Ask to be led to a place where you live rightly, love mercy, and walk humbly. He will respond with delight in you.
A word from the Word - “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. . . Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. . . But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15, NLT)
________
We Give You Glory
We have raised a thousand voices
just to lift Your holy name
And we will raise thousands more to sing
Of Your beauty in this place
Oh none can even fathom
No not one define Your worth
As we marvel in Your presence
To the ends of the earth
just to lift Your holy name
And we will raise thousands more to sing
Of Your beauty in this place
Oh none can even fathom
No not one define Your worth
As we marvel in Your presence
To the ends of the earth
We give You glory
Lifting up our hands and singing holy
You alone are worthy
We just want to touch Your heart Lord
Touch Your heart
Lifting up our hands and singing holy
You alone are worthy
We just want to touch Your heart Lord
Touch Your heart
As we fall down before You
With our willing hearts we seek
In the greatness of Your glory
It's so hard to even speak
There is nothing we can offer
No nothing can repay
So we give You all our praises
And lift our voices to sing
With our willing hearts we seek
In the greatness of Your glory
It's so hard to even speak
There is nothing we can offer
No nothing can repay
So we give You all our praises
And lift our voices to sing
Glory, Singing holy
We're singing worthy
We want to touch Your heart Lord
Touch Your heart
We're singing worthy
We want to touch Your heart Lord
Touch Your heart
Jeremy Camp © 2006 Stolen Pride (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Thirsty Moon River Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) CCLI License # 810055
Thirsty Moon River Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) CCLI License # 810055
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