The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Micah 5-7
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 6:Kings and Prophets: God divides the kingdom people.
Background Information: Micah 5-7
For fifty-nine years, Micah labored as a prophet of God in Judah. God gave him visions concerning Samaria (the capital of the northern kingdom) and Jerusalem (the capital of the southern kingdom). These were visions of judgment and of hope. How did he receive these visions? Was he working in the field, and suddenly the future opened up in his mind like a waking dream? Did he see this vision with his physical eyes, as God somehow caused it to unfold before him like watching a film? Why speculate? Because if we contemplate what it was actually like for him, we will more likely consider that this is factual history and not a made-up story. Do you wish God would give you a vision? Wouldn’t it be cool to get some special glimpse of the future? No, it actually wouldn’t be. I don’t think any Old Testament prophet loved his job. His message was in no way popular when he told of God’s judgment. Micah would live to see Israel fall and Judah at war. His message of future hope would strike a chord after the people were suffering through judgment, but the hope was beyond their lifetimes. I wouldn’t want his job, and yet what a privilege he had to speak of the future Messiah to a people under God’s judgment. Jerusalem was destined to become, as Isaiah had said, a dead stump. From that stump would come the Messiah (Isaiah 11:1). Micah gives them more intel on this future Messiah. He will come from a small and insignificant town, Bethlehem (wow, that is specific!) He will rule for God and not like other rulers, for self. He is from antiquity, and he will shepherd the people, and they will live securely in his peace. “He will again have compassion on us; he will vanquish our iniquities. He will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:19). You will probably not receive a vision from God of the future. But even better, you have received the message of gospel hope from him. You can speak like Micah did to people under God’s judgment. You can tell them of the ruler from Bethlehem who will cast their sins into the depths of the sea if they turn to him in repentance and faith.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Today the San Diego team will be making a public gospel presentation. Pray for the team as they share. Ask God to open the hearts of the campers to receive the gospel message.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.