Walk Humbly

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

-- Micah 6:8 (NKJV)

God has certainly shown us what is good. We can see His handiwork all around us. The beauty of His garden, the delight His creatures impart, the glory of the night sky, the wonder of a new born babe, and so much more speak a testament of all the good God provides.

And what little does He ask of us? Micah tells us we need only do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. To "do justly" and to "love mercy" both follow along with what Jesus instructed us: "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise." (Luke 6:31 (NKJV)) Simply be honest and fair with other people, be compassionate with them even if they do you or a loved one wrong.

The last admonition is to be humble in your walk through life, and, more importantly, in your walk with God. In this instance, showing humility means more than just being quiet or low-key. While we should not be overly inclined to jumping up and down while shouting "Look at me! Look at me!", we must also strive to always put other people first. Show humility by being deferential whenever possible. Jesus pointed this out to us when He was invited to a dinner at the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and he cautioned those in attendance not to clamor and compete for the best seats. (Luke 14:7-11).

Why is it so hard for us to treat other people, ALL people, the way we want to be treated ourselves? God asks so little of us. Can't we just be nicer to each other?

Father, thank You for encouraging us, through the words of Your prophet Micah and Your very Son our Lord, to treat each other with kindness, mercy, and respect. May we always walk humbly with you. Amen.

Who Rides the Heavens

"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds."

-- Deuteronomy 33:26 (NKJV)

"Jeshurun" is the poetic form of Israel and can mean Jacob, who was renamed Israel by God, the people of Israel or the land itself. Either of the three is appropriate in this verse, because "the God of Jeshrun" is the God of Jacob, the God of the land that bears his name, and the God of his descendants -- our God, the God.

Do you remember all the stories and tales where a knight in shining armor, or the good guy cowboy, would come riding in on a white horse and save the day? That is what I see when I close my eyes and visualize this verse. God comes riding across the heavens to help us. Not with flashing sword or blazing guns, but with all the power and might of the universe and His service. I see His hair blowing in the wind of His fast ride, a smile playing across His face as He comes, once again, to our rescue. He is in His excellency, His milieu, as He sweeps across the clouds, the sun (and the Son) beaming brightly in the distance.

There is indeed no one like God. He rides the heavens, just to help us.

Father, thank You for always coming to our rescue, for riding across the heavens just to be at our side. Thank You for sending Your Son that we might be saved. Amen.

Abide in His Love

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you;
abide in My love."

-- John 15:9 (NKJV)

As His final days drew close, Jesus shared one last meal with His disciples. He spoke quite bluntly with them that evening, speaking directly about what is expected of them, what the future holds. He knew His fate, and He wanted to prepare those who would carry on His work after He departed this world. But even with this pressing need, or maybe because of it, He felt it very important to reassure His beloved followers that His love for them would endure, that He would always be with them. He imparted this message for everyone, though, those there with Him and those not yet born. John recorded His words and they have lived for over two thousand years just so we could hear the very phrases Jesus spoke to us so long ago.

Jesus loves us. Just as God His Father loved Him, that is how much Jesus loves us.

No matter what may happen, regardless the lot life hands us, even if family and friends fail us, Jesus loves us. He always has. He always will. Abide in His love.

Dearest Jesus our Savior, thank you so much for always being there for us, for always loving us. Amen.