Precious Moments That Count For EternitySample

What God Requires of Us

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they tried to cover up their nakedness with fig leaves. Fig leaves are a symbol of self-righteousness, which stems from a proud heart acting independently of God. All that Adam and Eve had to do was own up to their sin and ask God for forgiveness.
Hundreds of years later, God made a covenant with Israel, as His chosen nation, declaring that the Messiah would come from Israel (Micah 5:2). Israel, however, forsook God’s covenant, so God sent the prophet Micah to warn them of impending judgment because of their sins of greed, covetousness, injustice and lying.
God was pleading with His people to return to Him, but the people responded with pride when God confronted them through His prophet. They tried to minimize the gravity of their sin and asked if God’s wrath would be appeased with burnt offerings, sacrifices, rivers of oil, or even an offering of their first born (Micah 6:6,7). Perhaps God would leave them alone after that. What arrogance!
In this world, sin is rampant everywhere. We see people exploiting one another for land, money, and sex; then covering up their sin by performing religious rituals and dropping money in the offering box, as if God needs their ill-gotten gain.
God doesn’t want our sacrifices. He wants our lives to be changed. He wants us to deal fairly with one another. Do we quickly offer mercy and forgiveness to those who have wronged us? Do we ask forgiveness from the ones we have hurt? When we fail God, do we come humbly before Him, acknowledging our sin and asking for His forgiveness? This is what a loving God requires of us. He demonstrated His love, mercy and forgiveness on the cross. Freely we have received, so freely let us give.

Prayer
Father, sometimes I’ve tried to cover my sin with self-righteous acts. Forgive me, Lord. Help me to be just, fair and forgiving. Amen.