Do What Is Right To Other People, Love Being Kind To Others, And Live Humbly

MICAH 6:6-8
“With what shall I come before the LORD, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 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 ‭6:6-8‬ ‭NKJV‬
‬https://www.bible.com/114/mic.6.6-8.nkj

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Israel’s response to God’s request of a change of behaviour was to appease Him with sacrifices, in the hope He would leave them alone to continue in their sinful ways.
But the truth is, religious rituals could do nothing then, nor can they today do anything toward paying our debt of sin without repentance.
My brethren, we really cannot continue in joining this world in sin, those who practice in such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (GALATIANS 5:19-21).
Therefore as Paul told us, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Since Jesus paid the whole debt of sin with His own blood on a cross, it is an insult to God to continue in sin and expect religious rituals to do anything toward making us right with Him. It is total foolishness to believe attendance, good deeds, or any animal sacrifice would cover it. “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:26-27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My brothers and sisters, I hope that verse stirs up fear of the Lord in you.
God wants change, He wants His people to come to Him in repentance. He wants them to be fair and just, merciful and humble, And to walk humbly with God, that they shine for Christ, for their is no place for sin in God’s kingdom
Today, apart from communion, there is no need for religious acts, rituals or sacrifices. Jesus sacrifice covers everything once and for all time (ROMANS 6:10).
To continue in religious rituals and sacrifices, or even to believe one’s sin is too great to be forgiven, is an insult to God; it is suggesting that Christ’ sacrifice wasn’t enough.
The blood of Jesus cleansed everything if you believe by faith
Paul said, “I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My beloved everything of this world, including the very food we eat in itself was contaminated by sin, but today is cleansed by the blood of Jesus for all those who believe. “Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
We do not need to be divided by what we eat or drink, or whether religious festivals like Christmas and Easter are of God or not. If you believe by faith that it is good, then it is, but for you who believe it might be sin, don’t do it. But don’t condemn others for their beliefs. Jesus came not to condemn, but to save.
Sin however, can be complicated, often fuelled by dependency and desperation. Therefore, it’s not something we can deal with in our own strength.
But God, being merciful, sent us a helper, His Holy Spirit to be with us always, to both lead, help, and empower us to do His will (JOHN 14:15-18).
My brethren, not only did Christ pay our debt of sin, He gives us the desire to do what is right, and empowers us to do it (PHILIPPIANS PHILIPPIANS 2:13).
This is not just Good News, it is amazingly Wonderful Good News.
Today, for us Christians, repentance should not be because we have deliberately sinned, but rather, just in case we made a mistake.
If you are struggling in certain areas of sin, give it to God. Go to Him in repentance being-willing to change. Confession to God is the first step and leads to salvation. But if you fail to confess your sins with one another, the devil will hold them over you.
When you confess to a trusted friend within the body, you take that power out of the devil’s hand.
Therefore, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My brethren , don’t allow pride or shame to steal your life, but rather confess. We are all in the same boat, sinners in need of a Saviour.
Thanks be to God, it is not by our righteousness that we are saved, but in Christ’ righteousness by faith.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
We can see for ourselves that this world cannot continue as it is; it’s just a matter of time before the Lord returns to bring forever justice.
Paul said, present your bodies a living sacrifice; life in Christ is not a social event, it is a calling! We believers must cooperate with God and separate from the things of this world. It is then that a transformation starts and our minds will be renewed, and we shall come to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Therefore, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.””
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭6:14-18‬ ‭NKJV
My brethren, this is no time to be complacent, Jesus return is just around the corner.
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
‭‭James‬ ‭4:7-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.