Bible Verse: The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. Psalm 145:17-20
Scripture Reading: Micah 5; Romans 12: 1-2
Today’s devotional is centred on Micah, a prophet with unwavering faith in God. Micah wrote the Book of Micah, and his name means “one who is like God.”
He prophesied from around 737 BC to 690 BC to the people of Judah, who claimed to be believers but were morally corrupt and no different from non-believers. He foretold the Messiah to come and pinpointed Bethlehem as the place where the Messiah would be born.
I can relate to Micah’s experience because I grew up in a similar environment where everyone called themselves Christians, went to church on Sundays, but lived worldly lives the rest of the week. There was little time devoted to Jesus, the Savior, but plenty of time to judge and proclaim God’s wrath through disparaging people outside selected social circles.
We can emulate Micah’s faith in three areas:
1. Micah’s faith grew stronger despite animosity.
Micah had a compelling reason to abandon his faith at a young age. When he was a child, his small country village was attacked and probably destroyed by an invading king from Assyria. Micah likely witnessed the brutal assault, which claimed the lives of many of his relatives and friends and resulted in others being enslaved. However, instead of blaming and turning away from God, Micah’s faith in God grew. Is there anything in your childhood keeping you from surrendering completely to God?
2. Micah did not conform to the world.
Micah witnessed an increasing number of people abandoning their faith and leading dishonest lives throughout his childhood. These people would pretend to be believers while becoming more and more like their sinful neighbours. Despite living in a rural village, Micah did not shy away from speaking out against the sin originating in larger cities. He directed most of his prophecies toward the rich and powerful and was likely criticized for his strong convictions. How many of us would remain steadfast in our faith if criticized or rebuked for it? Are we keeping our faith hidden because we fear being ridiculed? Micah chose not to conform to the world’s ways but instead confronted the sin around him.
3. Micah was a protector of the faith.
When this Bible story takes place, people’s faith is faltering, and they neglect to seek daily spiritual nourishment. Instead, they pursued worldly pleasures that inevitably lead to ruin and destruction. Micah, dedicated to protecting the faith, warned the people of Judah about the devastation that would befall them because of their diminishing faith. As believers, it is our responsibility to safeguard our faith and to lovingly guide others toward the path of faith in God. We must act as a moral compass for those around us.
Prayer: Father, please give us the courage to stand up for our faith. Allow hostility to make our faith stronger the way iron sharpens iron. Help us stand firm for Your kingdom and not conform to this world. Give us the strength to become protectors of the faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Reflection: Is there a cause you can support to ensure your faith does not become worldly and shallow?
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