Powerful & Effective
Life might seem complex, but there is a simplicity to following Jesus. What is required? To love mercy, act justly, and walk humbly. The evidence of our belief in this truth is shown in how we pray, how we praise, and how we provide for others.
“After the time of Abimelek, a man of Issachar named Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths...because the Israelites forsook the Lord and no longer served him, he became angry with them. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, “We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals...the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now." Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord."
Judges 10:1-7, 10, 15-16
There seems to be an endless cycle of stories in the bible about times of prosperity that lead to times of pain because the people allow their pride, their possessions, and their desires for pleasure to get in the way of staying faithful to their personal Savior. Does this really seem that far-fetched from the world we live in? Are these not the same things that can come between us and doing what is right?
Two truths emerge from the text. First, God is faithful. Even when we are not faithful, God is always faithful. The people never deserve to be rescued and restored, but God's love does not depend on our performance. His love is unconditional and unwavering. The second truth is that humility helps. The bible says we all fall short of the glory of God. We all sin and will have times where we do not act justly, embrace mercy, or live righteously. Humility helps turns us back to the right road when we have gone astray. The people in this text acknowledge they had sinned, said do whatever you think is best, and trusted that God would help. How do you practice or grow in humility? What can help us be proactive in living with humble hearts?
“In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. I will ever praise you. I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me. As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long...I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.”
Psalms 71:1-3, 5-12, 14-16, 20
David has a unique approach to solving life's problems. He does not do what most of us would do and start strategizing the best course of action. He does not evaluate his strengths and weaknesses. He does not call up friends nor collude to see how he can counter his enemies. He does not spend time thinking about all the ways he has been wronged or think of what he needs to do to fix the situation. He takes a very counter-culture approach to problem solving.
David praises God. Pay attention to the language that he uses. He shows us what humbling yourself and lifting God up should look like. He speaks of God as his refuge and fortress so he spends time remembering how God has been faithful as a way to firm up his faith. He speaks truth about the situation that God is greater than anything he faces and this helps ease the pressures of the day. His desire becomes more intimacy with God not just a quick answered prayer. He does say come quickly, but that is so he can sense God's presence because of how the presence of God gives him comfort. Instead of gossiping, slandering, and complaining, David guards his heart. He chooses to praise how great God is rather than talk about how terrible his troubles are.
How could we apply what we learn from David to whatever we face today? Do you see how David walked humbly through the highs and the lows? To David, everything was about how great God is and what God would do.
“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good. Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the Lord detests them both. One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.”
Proverbs 17:3, 13, 15, 20
When you woke up today, did you know that you would be tested? You will. It may be in the smallest details like whether you will be honest with all things, at all times or with challenges that seem beyond your greatest strength. The word says the Lord tests the heart. The word also says that you will not be tested beyond what you can bear because God is not testing you hoping that you will fail. He is testing you so we can live in the truth and the truth can set us free.
Solomon says that justice matters. In a world where we see injustice everywhere, God is still a just God. Solomon says it is unjust to pay back evil for good. He says acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent is against God's laws. You might think that you do not do this, but ask yourself if you ever play favorites. Do you treat each person with equal generosity, love, and kindness? Naturally we are nicer to people who are nice to us. God is different. He pours rain and sun on the just and the unjust because He made us all. His plans and purposes are always for redemption and to teach people how to live justly.
“My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. 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. Listen! The Lord is calling to the city...Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house, and the short ephah, which is accursed? Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights? Your rich people are violent; your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully.”
Micah 6:3-4, 6-12
One of the most famous passages in scripture is from this chapter. What does the Lord require? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. What a beautiful verse. Can you imagine what the world would be like if all people embraced justice, loved mercy, and walked humbly with Jesus? This is how it is in heaven.
Why is this passage so popular? Is it not the simplicity of it? We have hard time trying to keep track of hundreds of rules, but we can all do these three things. We inherently know that we might not be perfect people, but we can do what God asks in this verse. We know that whether we are rich or poor, strong or weak, a rebel or rightly following God, these three requirements are universal truths that can be done and align with truth. What do they mean to you?
The word justice is the Hebrew mishpat. The meaning of the wrod is right order, proper judgment, protecting the vulnerable, and doing what is in right alignment with God's standards. It is not passive. Too often in our world, we allow injustice. We are called to be people who act justly and stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Following Jesus is not a spectator sport, you have a role to play in administering justice in our world. How do you think that is?
The word mercy is chesed. It is one of the most beautiful words in the bible and is often used to describe God's loving kindness, mercy, faithful covenant love. We love mercy when we have failed, but can we be merciful when others fall short? Loving like Jesus means learning to take delight in others and reflecting God's love in how we treat all people. How will you reflect God through how you love others?
The words walk humbly carries the sense of daily grateful dependence on God by ordering your life around how you can serve and be attentive to God's purposes. It helps us hold on to the right posture as we live out our personal relationship with the Almighty God through our Savior Jesus Christ.
“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
James 5:1-5, 7-9, 11, 13-16, 20
Aren't you thankful when someone gives you a warning you needed? Have you ever had someone warn you of a danger, a potential trap, or issue that could have harmed you? James is trying to help. James knew the book of Micah. He knows what is required and is calling out the ways in which we are rebelling against doing what is right in God's eyes. He sees the world around him and how much people love to hoard money. He knows that you cannot say you are acting justly and loving mercy when you have so much and do not have regard for others in need. Luxurious living may feel nice while you live on earth, but does not tend to look so good as evidenced by the story Jesus told of the beggar Lazarus. How does your giving reflect a heart that acts justly and loves mercy?
James wants you to know who God is and who you are made to be. He says God is compassionate and merciful. He knows when Micah said that we are to be compassionate and merciful that he was really saying we should reflect God in how we live. We can say anything we want, but words are not the same as actions. It is how we live and love that tell the tale of our faith. What story is your life telling?
James says pray and praise. He says the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Jesus said the same thing. He said ask and it will be given to you. He said seek and you will find. Do you know that you have power? The same word for power here is where we get the word for dynamite. It is explosive power. It is the same word that describe Jesus rising from the dead. That power lives in you and your prayers have power as you align them with the will of the Father. The key word here is righteous. James is saying that when you do what Micah tells us to do and your life reflects God that as you pray you will see God answer.
James wants to put into practice what we preach. He says live out the simple gospel by praying when someone is sick, praising when joyful, being present with one another sharing honestly as we go through life, and walking with God every step of the way. God is a God of power and experience and He wants you to know you are made to be powerful as you receive the power that comes from inimacy with Him. Jesus is the vine. We are the branches. We produce fruit that will nourish others as we stay connected and learn what it means to act justly, love mercy, and walk humly with Him.