Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Instruction and Encouragement from Micah

"For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Rom. 15:4


Background:

The prophet Micah was a country preacher from the agricultural town of Moresheth about 20 miles south of Jerusalem. During his time period, Isaiah preached in Jerusalem while Hosea preached in Israel. Through Micah, God sent a strong message to His people rebuking their sins of wickedness and rebellion as well as a prophetic message to the rulers concerning the coming of Christ. Micah followed the "hear ye" warnings with God's glorious promises to completely tread "their iniquities underfoot" and of ultimate deliverance by His mercy and power.

Instruction:

"…I am filled with power- with the Spirit of the Lord- and with justice and courage to make known to Jacob his rebellious act, even Israel his sin." Micah 3:8


It indeed took courage for Micah to be God's spokesman in a day when the prophet was surrounded by countrymen entrenched in rebellion and wickedness. How would you like your job description to read: "It is your responsibility to identify and expose the sins of everyone around you"? I dare say that occupation would not be on the list of how to win friends and influence people. Micah, however, bravely proclaimed throughout his town:

"Hear now what the Lord is saying …He has told you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:1,6.8


I am very grateful that I do not serve a God that merely says, "You are doing wrong now straighten up, young lady (young compared to eternity), and fly right!" God's convictions are always for the purpose of repentance and restoration. He longs to set His children FREE! The same Holy Spirit that empowered Micah to boldly rebuke his nation is the Holy Spirit in me who is able to empower me to do what is right, live out an attitude of kindness toward others and walk humbly with my God regardless of adverse, difficult circumstances or mean, unkind people. A person in my life that beautifully walked in this blessed freedom and empowerment of the Holy Spirit was my mother…my hero.  In spite of extreme life challenges, she consistantly acted justly, loved kindness and walked faithfully with her God.

Elsie Verna Haselton Brazelle Watson, was born on April 21, 1920. In keeping with the vernacular of Hebrew 11, by faith, Verna survived the Great Depression, endured being apart from her husband for over 2 years while he served overseas in WWII, recovered from tuberculosis while living in a TB sanatorium for over a year, remained steadfast through heart disease, Lupus, breast cancer and mastectomies in 1988 and 1992, persevered as caretaker for my daddy until his death by cancer in 1994, and stood firm when diagnosed with bone cancer in 1998 while continuing to joyfully mow her lawn and work in her yard. When bone cancer metastasized to cancer of the brain, lungs and liver in March 2003, by faith she proclaimed, “Isn’t life fascinating!”

On June 20, 2003, “her Beloved responded and said to her, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one and come along. For behold the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers have already appeared in the land…” (Song of Solomon 2:10-12), and Jesus took her home.

My heart cries out, “Well done, Mother! You fought the good fight, you finished the course, and you kept the faith! (2 Tim. 4:7). “Your children rise up and call you blessed! Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but the woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” (Prov. 31:28,30)


Encouragement:

"But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me…who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love. He will have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea!" Micah 7:7,18-19


Be encouraged, O beautiful one. God is your strength and salvation. He sees you. He hears you. He will help you to overcome temptations and sins and walk with Him in kindness and humility. May you fear the Lord in great love and courageously repent of sin.  May your family, friends and associates rise up and call you blessed!

"Now, the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing is His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen!"  (Heb. 13:20-21)

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