Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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True Piety

Micah 6:1-8


Mary Varughese (Aswathi).
St. Thomas MTC, Lombard, IL

“O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me!

Micah, one of the twelve Minor Prophets, whose name means "who is like God?” urged the people to remember the Lord who delivered the Israelites from slavery.  


The passage deals with the controversy between God and Israel. What were God’s requirements of Israel? Deuteronomy 10:12 spells out the requirements that Moses placed before the Israelites, “ 12 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees”. It is evident that Israel has fallen short of following these commands.
God, through the prophet Micah, reminds the Israelites of His deeds of love and care for them- how He sent leaders like Moses, Aaron and Miriam to lead them out of slavery, how when king Balak  of Moab plotted against them, He sent Balaam to their rescue. Balaam who was supposed to curse Israel turned and blessed Israel instead.
The prophet Micah also reminds them that God is not interested in animal sacrifices rather sheer obedience. He ends by telling them “what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
These requirements of God still pertain to our lives today. In an age when technology reigns, where ‘superfast’ is in vogue, can we take a step back in time re-think our lifestyles, raise our arms heavenward, fall on our knees and revere the Creator? No words needed, just offer our hearts in simple, faithful adoration.  He is The Creator who defined humility, simplicity and piety.  Today on the cusp of another year of modernization, He is calling us to re-define our spiritual lives to live in humility and simplicity: For HIM.

PRAYER

Father, we kneel before Your throne of grace.  Teach us to live simply, humbly, compassionately for You.  We bear Your seal on our foreheads and may we always be aware of whose we are and whom we represent. Amen

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies - Mother Teresa

 

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