Making An Impression
Can you recall a time when you tried to impress someone? How did it go? If you can’t think of that, how about when someone else tried to impress you?
In the Bible, the prophet Micah comments on trying to impress God. Have you tried to do that? I have. Maybe if we just sound sincere enough, devoted enough, kind enough, generous enough, it will make a position impression on God. Here’s what Micah says:
What can we bring to the Lord?
Should we bring him burnt offerings?
Should we bow before God Most High
with offerings of yearling calves?
Should we offer him thousands of rams
and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
to pay for our sins? Micah 6:6,7
In the Bible, the prophet Micah comments on trying to impress God. Have you tried to do that? I have. Maybe if we just sound sincere enough, devoted enough, kind enough, generous enough, it will make a position impression on God. Here’s what Micah says:
What can we bring to the Lord?
Should we bring him burnt offerings?
Should we bow before God Most High
with offerings of yearling calves?
Should we offer him thousands of rams
and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
to pay for our sins? Micah 6:6,7
These were some of the examples of how people in Old Testament times might have tried to impress God. What are some modern-day equivalents? What might we think we could do to impress God? Verse 7 is exaggerated. Why do you think it is expressed in exaggeration? How do we try to convince God and people about our dedication, worth, generosity, or capabilities?
God responds to all this bravado very simply in verse 8:
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.
How does verse 8 nicely respond to the previous verses?
God has plans for us to do great things and express kindness and love. But it is because He loved us first and gave His only Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our since and establish a new relationship with us. He is not impressed; He is a loving God that intends His best for us. In response, we are free to live in positive ways, love others, and worship God creatively and extravagantly.
A well-known theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer noted that sometimes Christian believers can mask their struggles with sin for fear of being criticized or disliked by others. Bonhoeffer says, “The end result is that we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy. The fact is that we are sinners!”
God responds to all this bravado very simply in verse 8:
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.
How does verse 8 nicely respond to the previous verses?
God has plans for us to do great things and express kindness and love. But it is because He loved us first and gave His only Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our since and establish a new relationship with us. He is not impressed; He is a loving God that intends His best for us. In response, we are free to live in positive ways, love others, and worship God creatively and extravagantly.
A well-known theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer noted that sometimes Christian believers can mask their struggles with sin for fear of being criticized or disliked by others. Bonhoeffer says, “The end result is that we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy. The fact is that we are sinners!”
What do you think? Can you identify with his comment? What things might you be doing to avoid criticism or being fearful of being disliked? We constantly need to be reminded that we are redeemed sinners, set free.
4832 Ponderings:
Closing Prayer: Dear Lord, we are so blessed by Your love for us each day. Though we fall short in our humanness and brokenness, empower us to reflect Your love toward the people in our lives. This includes those that are easy to love and those that are difficult to love. As we grow to be more like You and as we follow Your new command to Love one another as You love us, may we be shown as Your true and loving followers by our love for one another, In Jesus’ name. Amen Adapted from John 13:34-35
Deitrich Bonhoeffer quote is from Life Together. ©1954 by Harper & Rowe Publishers. p. 110
- Why might it be important to do a “heart check” as we evaluate our lives of service and worship?
- Describe the various ways humility factors into our Christian lives.
- How should we respond when others do not love us in this way the Bible here describes?
- How will I express this kind of love toward: My family, my faith community, my larger community (neighborhood, city, etc.)?
Closing Prayer: Dear Lord, we are so blessed by Your love for us each day. Though we fall short in our humanness and brokenness, empower us to reflect Your love toward the people in our lives. This includes those that are easy to love and those that are difficult to love. As we grow to be more like You and as we follow Your new command to Love one another as You love us, may we be shown as Your true and loving followers by our love for one another, In Jesus’ name. Amen Adapted from John 13:34-35
Deitrich Bonhoeffer quote is from Life Together. ©1954 by Harper & Rowe Publishers. p. 110
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