Walking with God: Justice, Mercy, and Humility
Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the profound question posed in the book of Micah: "With what shall I come before the Lord?" This question challenges us to consider how we can stand in a relationship with an exalted and transcendent God. Historically, ancient cultures recognized a vast chasm between humanity and the divine, necessitating mediation through priests and sacrifices. However, in our modern context, many have lost the sense of this distance, often perceiving God as a benevolent spirit rather than an exalted being.
Micah presents two incorrect answers to this question. First, the idea that wealth or personal sacrifice could earn a relationship with God is dismissed. No amount of material offering or personal suffering can atone for our sins against an infinite God. The second wrong answer is the notion that we can atone for our sins through our own efforts or pain. The reality is that our sins create an infinite debt that we cannot repay on our own.
The right answer, as Micah reveals, is to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. However, this is not a call to self-reliance or moralism. Instead, it points to the necessity of atonement and grace. The Old Testament context emphasizes the need for sacrifice, while the New Testament reveals that Jesus Christ is the ultimate sacrifice, bridging the gap between humanity and God. Through His death and resurrection, we are invited into a covenant relationship with God, not based on our merit but on His grace.
To truly walk with God means to live a life marked by justice, mercy, and humility. It involves caring for the vulnerable, loving others unconditionally, and maintaining a vibrant, intimate relationship with God. This journey is not about mere niceness but about becoming new creations, reflecting God's boundless love and goodness.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Chasm Between Humanity and God: Ancient cultures understood the vast distance between humanity and the divine, necessitating mediation through sacrifices. In contrast, modern society often overlooks this chasm, perceiving God as a benevolent spirit rather than an exalted being. Recognizing this distance is crucial for understanding our need for divine mediation. [06:54]
2. The Inadequacy of Human Efforts: No amount of wealth or personal sacrifice can atone for our sins against an infinite God. Our attempts to earn a relationship with God through our efforts are futile, highlighting the necessity of divine grace and atonement. [11:33]
3. The Necessity of Atonement: The Old Testament emphasizes the need for sacrifice, pointing to the ultimate atonement found in Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection bridge the gap between humanity and God, inviting us into a covenant relationship based on grace. [19:55]
4. Living a Life of Justice, Mercy, and Humility: To walk with God means to live a life marked by justice, mercy, and humility. This involves caring for the vulnerable, loving others unconditionally, and maintaining a vibrant, intimate relationship with God. [32:41]
5. Transformation Through Grace: True goodness is not about mere niceness but about becoming new creations in Christ. Through His grace, we are transformed into radiant beings, reflecting God's boundless love and goodness. This process, though challenging, leads to a life of profound joy and purpose. [36:17]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - The Question of Approach
[01:03] - Exploring Goodness
[02:31] - Darkness in the Human Heart
[03:48] - The Radical Meaning of Goodness
[05:00] - The Great Question
[06:40] - The Chasm Between Us and God
[08:14] - Modern Perceptions of God
[10:30] - Wrong Answers to the Question
[12:24] - The Inadequacy of Human Sacrifice
[15:06] - The Need for Atonement
[18:04] - Contextualizing Micah's Message
[22:22] - The Challenge of True Love
[25:47] - The Firstborn and Atonement
[29:44] - The Ultimate Sacrifice
[32:41] - Living Justly, Mercifully, and Humbly
[36:17] - Transformation Through Grace
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Micah 6:6-8 - "With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
2. Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
3. Isaiah 64:6 - "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the two incorrect answers Micah presents to the question, "With what shall I come before the Lord?" [10:30]
2. How does the sermon describe the ancient cultures' understanding of the distance between humanity and God? [06:54]
3. What does the sermon say about the modern perception of God compared to ancient beliefs? [08:14]
4. According to the sermon, what does it mean to "walk humbly with your God"? [32:41]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the sermon emphasize the inadequacy of human efforts to atone for sins? How does this relate to the concept of divine grace? [11:33]
2. How does the sermon connect the Old Testament requirement for sacrifice with the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice? [19:55]
3. What does the sermon suggest is the true meaning of living a life marked by justice, mercy, and humility? How does this differ from mere moralism? [32:41]
4. How does the sermon explain the transformation that occurs through grace, and what does it mean to become a "new creation" in Christ? [36:17]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own perception of God. Do you see Him as a benevolent spirit or as an exalted being? How does this perception affect your relationship with Him? [08:14]
2. In what ways have you tried to earn a relationship with God through your own efforts or sacrifices? How can you shift your focus to rely more on His grace? [11:33]
3. Consider the call to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. What specific actions can you take this week to care for the vulnerable in your community? [32:41]
4. How can you cultivate a deeper, more intimate relationship with God that goes beyond mere niceness to reflect His boundless love and goodness? [36:17]
5. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with humility. What steps can you take to walk more humbly with God in that area? [32:41]
6. Think of a relationship in your life that requires mercy. How can you show steadfast love to that person, even if it drains you? [34:12]
7. What is one specific way you can focus on becoming a "new creation" in Christ this month? How will you measure your progress in this transformation? [36:17]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing the Divine Chasm
In ancient times, people understood the vast distance between humanity and the divine, often relying on priests and sacrifices to mediate this gap. Today, many perceive God as a benevolent spirit, overlooking His exalted nature. Recognizing this chasm is crucial for understanding our need for divine mediation. This awareness invites us to approach God with reverence and humility, acknowledging our limitations and His greatness. By understanding the true nature of God, we can better appreciate the grace that bridges this gap. [06:54]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: How does recognizing the vastness of God change the way you approach Him in prayer and worship today?
Day 2: The Futility of Human Efforts
No amount of wealth or personal sacrifice can atone for our sins against an infinite God. Our attempts to earn a relationship with God through our efforts are futile, highlighting the necessity of divine grace and atonement. This realization calls us to abandon self-reliance and embrace the grace offered through Jesus Christ. By acknowledging our inability to bridge the gap on our own, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's love and mercy. [11:33]
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on your own efforts rather than God's grace? How can you shift your focus to trust in His provision today?
Day 3: The Necessity of Atonement
The Old Testament emphasizes the need for sacrifice, pointing to the ultimate atonement found in Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection bridge the gap between humanity and God, inviting us into a covenant relationship based on grace. This atonement is not something we can earn; it is a gift freely given. By accepting this gift, we are invited into a life of freedom and purpose, grounded in the love and sacrifice of Christ. [19:55]
Hebrews 9:12 (ESV): "He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption."
Reflection: How does the understanding of Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice impact your relationship with God? What steps can you take to deepen this relationship today?
Day 4: Living a Life of Justice, Mercy, and Humility
To walk with God means to live a life marked by justice, mercy, and humility. This involves caring for the vulnerable, loving others unconditionally, and maintaining a vibrant, intimate relationship with God. It is not about mere niceness but about embodying the values of God's kingdom in our daily lives. By committing to these principles, we reflect God's love and goodness to the world around us. [32:41]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "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?"
Reflection: Who in your community is in need of justice, mercy, or kindness today? How can you be a vessel of God's love to them?
Day 5: Transformation Through Grace
True goodness is not about mere niceness but about becoming new creations in Christ. Through His grace, we are transformed into radiant beings, reflecting God's boundless love and goodness. This process, though challenging, leads to a life of profound joy and purpose. Embracing this transformation requires a willingness to let go of old patterns and embrace the new life offered in Christ. [36:17]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: What old patterns or habits do you need to let go of to fully embrace your new identity in Christ? How can you actively pursue this transformation today?
Quotes
He has shown you immortal what is good, and what does the Lord require of you: to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. This is the word of the Lord. [00:00:31]
Micah says what shall I do to stand before the exalted God? That's the question. How can I have a relationship with a Transcendent exalted God? How can I come into His presence? How can I know him? All ancient cultures believed that behind the immensities of the natural Universe was an even greater immensity, the ultimate mystery, a Divine transcendent, ultimate absolute power. [00:05:22]
All the wealth in the world would not suffice as a burnt offering. Now what's a burnt offering? So you notice it says shall I come with before him with burnt offerings, calves a year old were very that was a very expensive meat calves are very tender, but thousands of rams would be even more expensive of an offering and ten thousand rivers of oil is in our, you know in today's currency would be billions of dollars. [00:11:01]
Mike is saying let me come up with the most unimaginable pain I can think of, how about the pain of losing your firstborn son your child, imagine unimaginable pain terrible pain, right, and he's saying here that even if I would submit to that voluntary that kind of pain, all the greatest personal pain and Agony in the world would not atone for my sin. [00:13:37]
The average person says well you know I mean some of the sociologists have said that when they study what Young Americans believe about religion most of them say that if I live a good life according to my own standards and God sees that I'm trying my very hardest and I really believe that God will answer my prayers and he will love me and he will help me and all that sort of thing. [00:15:15]
Micah is an Old Testament prophet and if you think well all this is saying is you don't need to do all these sacrifices and all these religious observances you just try your best to live in the way that you think is right, first of all that's denying one of the main messages of the entire old testament which is that you do need atonement for sin. [00:18:15]
The Old Testament law says that the firstborn, the life of the firstborn of every family is forfeit because of the family's sin and therefore a ransom has to be paid which meant a cost a payment had to be made to the Tabernacle now none of the firstborn died. What in the world does that mean that the life of the firstborn is forfeit in every family and only the life of the firstborn is Ransom the sacrifice is made can his life be spared. [00:25:47]
The reason why God does not require your life or my life or reason why he can forgive us the reason why he doesn't require the life of the firstborn was because God the Father himself as it were walked up the mountain Mount Calvary, completely alone, Jesus was so alone, and he offered up his firstborn son and there was nobody up there to say stay thy hand. [00:29:48]
We see what it means to be good it doesn't mean just to be nice and it certainly doesn't mean just to try our best to live the way we think is it's well it means to have a relationship with you the exalted God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and then to have our lives transformed so that we do justice we love Mercy and we have a vital relationship with you. [00:36:40]
The way you know you're in a vital relationship with God is first of all you're exposed when you're walking with somebody they can see everything you're doing don't try to hide it, and to be exposed and totally accountable means that every single part of your life you expose to God, you don't just let God into part of your life you don't just turn to him you know you're not one way in public another way in private you you bring them into every part of your life that's what it means to walk with God. [00:35:01]
See goodness is really not just niceness it's newness and C.S Lewis says this he can make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a dazzling, into dazzling radiant Immortal creatures pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, he can make us into bright stainless mirrors which reflect back to God perfectly his own boundless power and delight and goodness. [00:36:17]
The process will be long and in Parts painful but that's what we're in for, nothing less get a vision for newness of life let's pray, so father, we see what it means to be good it doesn't mean just to be nice and it certainly doesn't mean just to try our best to live the way we think is it's well it means to have a relationship with you the exalted God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and then to have our lives transformed. [00:36:40]
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