7 day plan

Times of Refreshing

Day 5 of 7

NIV

Micah 6:8

8He 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.

Reflection:

After the lame man was healed at the Beautiful Gate, the apostles were held in high esteem. However, Peter and John made it clear that it wasn’t their own power or godliness that had healed the man, but faith in the Name of Jesus (Acts 3:12-16). Like John the Baptist, their immediate response to accolade was to turn people’s attention away from themselves and onto Jesus Christ. Such humility is foundational to the requirements of God. It is also central to narrative of revivals.

Revivals often occur in unexpected places and come through unheralded vessels. Evan Roberts, the man God so powerfully used in the 1904 Welsh revival, is one such example. He was shy, inadequately educated and humble. He possessed attributes that are prized by God but often despised by many of today’s leaders. However, if we are going to see revival in Australia, we will not be led up to a platform of influence but rather down to our knees in prayer. Revivals require humility.

Prayer:

Father God, I praise your holy Name. Thank you that you have made your requirements clear to us. Please empower us as a community of believers to exemplify justice, mercy and humility. Please enable me to serve others with humility. I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Days

Micah 6:1-16

The Lord’s Case Against Israel

1Listen to what the Lord says:

“Stand up, plead my case before the mountains;

let the hills hear what you have to say.

2“Hear, you mountains, the Lord’s accusation;

listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.

For the Lord has a case against his people;

he is lodging a charge against Israel.

3“My people, what have I done to you?

How have I burdened you? Answer me.

4I brought you up out of Egypt

and redeemed you from the land of slavery.

I sent Moses to lead you,

also Aaron and Miriam.

5My people, remember

what Balak king of Moab plotted

and what Balaam son of Beor answered.

Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,

that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

6With 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?

7Will 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?

8He 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.

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment

9Listen! The Lord is calling to the city—

and to fear your name is wisdom—

“Heed the rod and the One who appointed it.

10Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house,

and the short ephah, which is accursed?

11Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales,

with a bag of false weights?

12Your rich people are violent;

your inhabitants are liars

and their tongues speak deceitfully.

13Therefore, I have begun to destroy you,

to ruin you because of your sins.

14You will eat but not be satisfied;

your stomach will still be empty.

You will store up but save nothing,

because what you save I will give to the sword.

15You will plant but not harvest;

you will press olives but not use the oil,

you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.

16You have observed the statutes of Omri

and all the practices of Ahab’s house;

you have followed their traditions.

Therefore I will give you over to ruin

and your people to derision;

you will bear the scorn of the nations.”