Survey the Cross
The voice of the LORD cries to the city—and it is sound wisdom to fear your name: “Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it! Can I forget any longer the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed? Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights? Your rich men are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow, making you desolate because of your sins. You shall eat, but not be satisfied, and there shall be hunger within you; you shall put away, but not preserve, and what you preserve I will give to the sword. You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine. For you have kept the statutes of Omri, and all the works of the house of Ahab; and you have walked in their counsels, that I may make you a desolation, and your inhabitants a hissing; so you shall bear the scorn of my people.”
Micah 6:9–16
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Survey the Cross
There is no bright side to sin. God only sees it as it is and it must be punished. God would punish the wickedness of powerful people in Micah’s day. They would be cursed, not blessed, and be ridiculed and reviled. The Lord’s case against Israel would stand. His chosen people deserved and would receive God’s punishment. This should give us pause today. If we break God’s laws, especially by using positions of power to exploit the weak, as the people were doing in the days of the prophet Micah, we will ultimately face God’s judgment. Our sins may not be exactly what the Lord condemns here, but none of us is innocent in His sight. To walk humbly with our God means to repent daily of our sins and cling to His grace and mercy in Christ. This is our task, to repent and be saved. Surveying the cross shows us the severity of our sins and the length to which God would go to reconcile us. Surveying the empty tomb shows us that the victory is ours. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has cleansed us from all evil and given us the strength to care for those who are weak and powerless in our world.
Micah 6:9–16
+
Survey the Cross
There is no bright side to sin. God only sees it as it is and it must be punished. God would punish the wickedness of powerful people in Micah’s day. They would be cursed, not blessed, and be ridiculed and reviled. The Lord’s case against Israel would stand. His chosen people deserved and would receive God’s punishment. This should give us pause today. If we break God’s laws, especially by using positions of power to exploit the weak, as the people were doing in the days of the prophet Micah, we will ultimately face God’s judgment. Our sins may not be exactly what the Lord condemns here, but none of us is innocent in His sight. To walk humbly with our God means to repent daily of our sins and cling to His grace and mercy in Christ. This is our task, to repent and be saved. Surveying the cross shows us the severity of our sins and the length to which God would go to reconcile us. Surveying the empty tomb shows us that the victory is ours. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has cleansed us from all evil and given us the strength to care for those who are weak and powerless in our world.
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January
Responding to GodLamentationSeek GodThe Day of the LordA Matter of FaithThe Secure and the ComplacentThe Pride of the PeopleFrom Depths of WoeVisions of FireA Plumb LineAmaziahSummer FruitA Final VisionA Word of HopeA VisionHumiliationDisplacedStanding AloofHouse of FireRestorationHeeding God’s CallOverboardInside the Great FishFor a Second TimeMessage ReceivedNot FairA Lesson on MercyWho Is Like the Lord?O Earth!Then and NowLament
February
Courtroom DramaEnemies of GodThe Lord GathersFalse ProphetsZionRestorationWise MenIn, But Not OfGod’s ReproachSurvey the CrossLook to the LordVindicationThe Lord’s DeliveranceA Merciful HymnBack AgainLord’s Wrath and CareDoom and DeliveranceThe Enemies of GodOur ConquerorWoe to the City of BloodshedNo Other God’sAre You Better?Prophecy FulfilledThe Prophet SawHow Long?God in the MidstJustice ServedThe God of History
March
Waiting for an AnswerA Dire SituationA Twisting of the TruthIn His Image and In His LikenessThe Lord’s NameThe Sin of ManFear, Love, and TrustThe Day of SalvationThe Word of the LordThe Lord’s JudgmentClear and to the PointBe SilentThe Day of WrathSeek the LordGardensRunning After Other GodsSwordsThe Kingdoms of this WorldWhere is Your Trust?The Lord’s RemnantThe Truth of His WordThe Human HeartA Song of VictoryRebuildingObedienceSurpassing GloryA Faithful ResponseLooking to the FutureReturn to the Lord!A Performative WordFour Horns