Sermonizing - Part I

Micah 6:6-8 is the passage that we will be mostly looking at this morning. I will be reading out of the English Standard Version translation of the Bible. The book of Micah is small, only 7 chapters, and is tucked in between Jonah and Nahum at the back of your Old Testament. Micah wrote this book to the nation of Judah, the southern kingdom, right about when Israel, the northern kingdom, was being carried off into captivity. Other prophets writing at that time were Amos and Isaiah, and all three of these prophets identified one of the problems with God’s people. They had fallen into idolatry, and had been there pretty much ever since the time of Solomon. This is an issue that is addressed in all of these books. However, it is not the only problem seen here, and it is not the problem that we will be looking at.

Valuing what God values

I don't know how election and predestination and all that work with my own free will, there are elements of both presented in Scripture. I imagine that as I live further, and study the Word more, that I will come to a few more solid conclusions than I have now in that area. What I do know is that I have a responsibility to persevere in the faith and to make disciples. I know that God will strengthen me and uphold and has given me everything that I need for life and holiness. And it doesn't matter if God has predestined X to happen, He also holds me responsible for my actions. He is very clear about a few things that I should be doing, and only a few things. So those things must be kind of important. "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?" (Micah 6:8 ESV). "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV). How am I doing as a general rule there? Not so well, but with God's grace and this reminder of where my priorities need to be placed I will attempt to see growth in those actions moving forward.