1. Humbling yourself
2. Resisting the devil

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

Observation-What does it say? 

The book of Micah was written in the 8th century before the birth of Jesus.  Micah was from a small town in Judah, near the Philistine border.  He prophesied of the fall of Israel’s capitals, Jerusalem and Samaria, and of the eventual fall of Judah.  Micah prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.  Israel and Judah had fallen into some prosperity during this time, and the comfort that accompanied this prosperity made way for corruption of the character of the nation  The nation of Israel had fallen into sin, so had the kingdom of Judah, and this was displeasing to God.  Throughout the book, Micah tells of the judgement and deliverance by God.  Both Micah and Amos, one of Micah’s contemporaries, showed deep concern for social justice among the people of Israel.

Understanding-What does it mean? 

Jen (my wife) always reminds me that “actions speak louder than words.”  She usually says this when we are having some kind of argument about something I did.  Luckily for me, she fell in love with me for this same reason.  Just about every relationship has that time where things are a little up in the air on whether it’s the real thing, whether or not the couple are “meant to be.”  When Jen and I were in that time, I did a few things that really showed her who I was and that my actions lined up with my words.  On one day, I showed her I was both handy and domestic.  I changed her oil and cooked her dinner, things that I had been doing for myself for years.  But, it was that they were done for her with no expectation of a return that spoke to her.  

Another time, we had planned on going to her friend’s wedding on a Friday in Las Vegas at 6 pm.  Except I couldn’t get off work in Los Angeles until noon that day.  I swore to her I would make it, but she had her doubts.  As I was changing in the parking lot of the hotel at 5 pm, I got a call from her to find out where I was.  When I informed her I was waiting for her, she became ecstatic and told me she wouldn’t be there for another 45 minutes.  That day she found out I was good about coming through with what I say, and I found out that I would always be waiting for her to get ready.  But, she’s worth it I guess.

Similarly, God thinks our actions speak louder than words.  Throughout scripture we are encouraged and told that love is an action word.  Jesus tells us that all of the commandments are summed up by loving God and loving others.  To the Philippians, Paul wrote, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”  Jesus also told his followers, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)  Jesus showed us the ultimate example of actions speaking louder than words.  He gave his life for us, even while we were still sinners.

Life Application 

    human beings that you care for them?

Observation – What does it say?

A psalm of David.

Understanding – What does it mean?

Desert streams church was the first church to ask me about my posture and position towards God. And I believe it is because my church demands that I grow in my relationship with the Lord, that I am better able to understand those concepts.

What I have been contemplating for the past week however is a different p word, perspective.

I know there are books about laws of attraction etc etc, but I am going to attribute this one to the laws of the Holy Spirit working on me. I have really been chewing on this idea of how a person views life and the world is so important. My life changed drastically once I embraced Jesus as my Lord. And I embraced my view on life that God is great, and I am not. 

I think about the people I am surrounded by, filled with chaos and anger in their hearts. I think about all the hurting and hostile people out there who have not accepted Jesus in their lives and I can only pity them. It was only when I embraced this perspective, when I embraced that I would look at life from the vantage point of a mere mortal in relation to a perfect and perfectly loving God, that I began to transform. And the lack of peace in my heart was replaced with the fullness of peace that to this day I can still only describe as a supernatural one.

Life Application – How can I apply this to my life today?

Lord, how amazing Psalm 8 is. What a great reminder of the true pecking order of our lives. My prayer Lord is that you would help me to gain greater insight into this way of living and thinking. Of thinking about you as the majestic ruler of all. For my life application Lord I choose to pray for our political leaders, regardless of their socio-ideological beliefs. I will pray for them with the perspective we are all Your children and that you wish to save not some but all.

In the name of Jesus, amen. -kenneth lee

Scripture

Romans 13:1-2

Observation

Understanding

Anyone who knows me, knows this: I love United States history. Like I eat, sleep, breathe it! It’s kind of sad how much I love it. I’ll get excited just thinking about it (like right now I’m getting filled with excitement). Anyway, one of the periods that I love to look at is the Revolutionary War and the forming of the Constitution.

Here’s Allison’s brief history lesson of the day: the Constitution was not the first framework for our nation, it was actually the second. The first was something called the Articles of Confederation. The Articles failed dramatically because they ceased to give the central government any power in governing the people. Ironically, the people and the states had too much power. When the government tried to tax whiskey a rebellion broke out because they just fought a whole war on the basis of taxation and representation. The founding fathers then came together in Philadelphia and decided to “revise” the Articles, but instead they rewrote it, and viola: the new U.S. Constitution. Now this process took a long time mostly because the delegates argued relentlessly with each other. They all wanted a say in this newly formed nation, and after months of fighting, revising, writing, and drafting the U.S. gained her official “living document.”

All of this to say: our nation didn’t start on agreement, but I fear it will be this same disagreeing spirit that will be its downfall. Paul writes that we should submit to governing authorities, no matter how much we like them or not (or should I say whether you voted for them or not). Our Constitution wasn’t just created on a whim it took time to make, yet we the people wish to abolish it or amend it overnight. I don’t think its an accident that we ended up with the document or presidents, Congress, or Supreme Court that we did. It is God alone who establishes the authority of the United States or any state for that matter, the least we can do is calm down and perhaps trust the process. Good things take time… and to quote the Bible and one of my favorite historical figures Abraham Lincoln:

Mark 3:25

“If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand”

Life Application

Let’s look to bridge gaps, and not further the divide. We live in a wonderfully flawed, but still looking to build nation. I think that’s what makes America what it is… it’s full of imperfect people just trying to keep moving forwards. Here’s my thought on that: it is good to sometimes look back on history because it shows us how far we’ve come, or it shows us a mistake we are about to make again. Let’s be patient with one another and our government, we’re all trying our best.

Hopefully you all don’t hate me, I talked politics and history at once. I promise I’ll refrain from doing it again.

Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?”  Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!  You have put gladness in my heart,  More than when their grain and new wine abound.  In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.

Observation-What does it say?  

As the title expresses, this is a Psalm of David, whom we know as a man after God’s heart.  This was written as a song for Israel’s worship services.  It was likely written in a time of chaos and confusion, when people were turning away from the promises of God and turning toward the “wisdom” of men and foreign gods.  They were asking “who will show us any good?”  and seeking for answers outside of scripture.  David expresses the strength and joy he has found in the Lord.  In Biblical language the heart is the center of our spirit, the place where our emotions, thoughts, courage and action are derived from.  David tells the audience he found more security in God than when food was abundant (in today’s language, we might say when the stock market is doing well).  His safety was derived from his obedience to God’s commandments and his faith in God’s goodness.

Understanding-What does it mean? 

“Is–is he a man?” asked Lucy.  “Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly.  “Certainly not.  I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emporer-Beyon-the-Sea.  Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts?  Aslan is a lion–the Lion, the great Lion.”  Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man.  Is he–quite safe?”… “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver.  “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you?  Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe.  But he’s good.  He’s the King, I tell you.”

In “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”, C.S. Lewis used a story geared towards children to express the same truths he saw in the Bible.  He drew from his experience of uncertainty during both the first and second World Wars, as well as the pain experienced by the death of his mother at an early age, while writing these stories.  He became one of the foremost lay theologians of the 20th century.  Through all of the pain and uncertainty he experienced during his lifetime, which included the Spanish Flu pandemic and the stock market crash of the 1930’s, Lewis clearly developed a deep trust in God’s goodness, evidenced by his writings.

There is a lot of talk now of “being safe.”  God never promised safety.  In fact, scripture gives us assurance that if we follow Christ we will most certainly not be safe.  Before sending out the twelve, Jesus warned them they would see a hard road and gave them the true meaning of discipleship.  Jesus said, “Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.  What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.  Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:26-31)  Jesus also told his followers that they were blessed when they saw persecution (Matthew 5:11-12).  As David expressed, we only find security in God, not in the “wisdom” of this world.

Life Application 

Jesus, help me to find security in you, even when the world attacks and persecutes your church.  When the world seeks to keep us from worshiping you, help me to face the scrutiny with boldness and courage.  It is only in you that I find my life, only in you can I move and breath and have my being.  In you I am a new creation, and if I don’t cry out, surely the rocks will.