LEARNING DAILY

 

Micah 3:11, You rulers govern for the bribes you can get; you priests teach God’s laws only for a price; you prophets won’t prophesy unless you get paid. Yet all of you claim you are depending on the Lord. “No harm can come to us,” you say, “for the Lord is here among us.” (New Living Translation)

 

The sermons this summer at Community Bible Church have been covering the books of the minor prophets. They have been well prepared and provided great insight about the days the prophets lived in as well as thoughts about the times we live in right now. The days we live in are very similar to the days of the prophets; because of that you and I can better understand how God reacted then and reacts today.

 

The notes in the David Jeremiah Study Bible tell us, “The injustice and covenant unfaithfulness of Israel’s leaders would produce unimaginable devastation (see Jeremiah 26:18), including the ruin of the temple, which by this time was a hollow house of worship. The leaders mentioned here include the civil leaders and priests responsible for promoting justice, as well as the prophets responsible for communicating God’s will and plans to the people.” What was the problem with the leader of Micah’s day? The leaders believed there was no consequences for sin. That is another lie the devil has gotten people to believe today! Pastor Marquize Cox told us, “If people begin to lose their reverence and fear for God, they begin to believe there is no consequence for sin.” Is that not where we are in our country right now?

 

The corruption and greed in leadership is not new, World leaders have shown their corruption and greed for a long time. Politicians in the United States have used their position to become wealthier than when they entered office. We have seen recently the Speaker of the House of Representatives accused of passing information to her husband regarding stock trading days before the offering went public. We have seen the President accused of using his position as Vice President to gain position and wealth for his son and for his own gain. We have seen pastors of churches flaunt the wealth they have gained by leading megachurches and the downfall of those due to immorality.  It would be easy to cite more examples.

 

The real concern I have is that this thought process has crept into the thought process for individuals. I fear people have “faith in God” but not the conditions to walk in faith. The thinking is faulty when one can think they are able to live any way they want because they have “faith in God”. The belief that they are protected and blessed by God without living the way He desires is wrong. It is the thinking Micah was talking about. One cannot claim to know God and live however he wants to! Can I continue this by saying this does not apply just to one’s public life; it applies to one’s private life as well! You and I must guard against this idea that because we are “saved” and say God is with us that enables us to do as we want. We cannot live on the broad way to destruction believing there are no consequences! No, we enter the gate that leads to salvation (Jesus Christ) and walk on a narrow way that is difficult but leads to eternal life in the kingdom of God! Let us learn from the prophet Micah that as Christians, we live God’s way and not one how we want.