Micah for Today

A guy named Rufus was driving down the highway when he suddenly saw a tree, so he swerved to avoid it. Minutes later, he sees another one and then another one. Thankful he missed them all, he feels relieved only to see flashing red lights behind him. He pulls over and the officer comes up and asks him why he was swerving all over the highway. “I was just trying to avoid all those trees in the middle of the road ociffer.” The police officer leans in, rips off his hanging tree air freshener from his rear-view mirror and says sir, it’s time to get out of the vehicle.”

We often falsely think we’re right and that things need to adjust around us but what we really need is a whole new perspective – a sober one. Micah came and preached that devastation was coming. That devastation was not from a foreign enemy but from God Himself.

This month for the first time in 18 years I did not post a blog the first week of the month, on my webpage. Instead, I took verses every day, reflected on them and posted them on Facebook. It felt like the word went deeper into my heart and daily life.

There is not space to share all of the discovery, but I will share my favorite one. Our family had just gotten to the part where Micah asked God what He requires. God replies in a threefold answer. This month I “heard” it differently – maybe because I slowed down or applied it with my family, I am not sure. Hear it afresh today:

1. Act Justly– Social justice folks have used this for national protests and agendas. It does fit for those things, but it means so much more. God wants us to walk out our lives, character and every decision based on His justice, kingdom and will. Acting justly is acting like the Just One. It would be ok if it ended there but it also includes our thoughts. Oh- oh! We cannot act justly if we are having thoughts that are contrary to Gods’ word, so we need to make sure our mind and brain is in alignment with Gods word and Kingdom plan. My thought life is important to God and what I found out is that when I kept a tight rein on that, it yielded awesome results. Nope! Not going to let that thought, or suspicion or accusation take root – this mind belongs to God, and I will act and think according to HIS justice and will. Acting justly also entails speaking with our mouths in just ways. That would pretty much shut down gossip, slander, and false accusations. God is just and His ways are just. You cannot be just if you are falsely accusing others. You and I have done that right?

This month I needed to “act justly” towards others.  That was a growing experience. We do not’ deserve justice and yet we get it. We act wrong, think wrong and speak wrong, then expect to say we are Christians. God really requires us to act justly – with our actions, thoughts, and words. It’s a package type deal. We all fall short but if we ALL work on this what a better place it would be!

2. Love Mercy – this was my favorite one. I thought it just meant to be sloppy loving on people or saying “oh poor baby” but it means to be passionate for love and compassion, to have a deep affection not just for acts of mercy but for acts of kindness. Does this encourage us to be a “do-gooder”? yea, kind of. That thrills God and brings Him delight. I want to make God smile every day. I want to thrill him so much He dances around Heaven and creates new stars. Can we do that? That excites me more than anything. My goal today? Make God laugh, smile or chuckle so hard he snorts and all of earth hears it. How do you tickle Gods’ fancy?

One night during this research, I made a huge crockpot of cowboy beans. We had plastic spoons and aluminum foil bowls, so we packed up some boxes and brought them to our neighborhood friends who are homeless or live in tents nearby. They were happy and I was happy. My teenage sons helped out and the younger one encouraged one of the gentlemen to come to church that night. As I watched him smile, my heart was just bursting with joy in my chest. He was showing patience, love, and mercy to someone he had been building a relationship with for a while. I was delighted and got to feel a small fraction of what God must feel. My mama heart could not have been happier if I had won the lottery. Seriously.

3. Walk Humbly – For all you extroverts you are going to love this one. Humble is usually thought of as someone who is weak or mousey. If you try to be “humble” you end up looking like a pharisee because our goodness only comes from God, right? You can walk around pretending you are humble, but it is elusive. C.S. Lewis once said, “humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.” I imagine walking down the hallway timidly or being ultra quiet. Nope. This is what it looks like – a football huddle. I had to ask my football player son Jackson for input. When you huddle- it’s midgame. The coach is evaluating the game and how it is going. The team comes together, and the coach “adjusts” the play and the player. The word here means presence and to “huddle up.” We get in Gods circle and get His direction and focus. Being in His shadow, receiving His instruction and going WITH Him down the field is the picture. Walking humbly is more about following God than how we walk as an individual – it’s in His presence, in His shadow and mercy. That’s not swagger – that’s Holy Spirit sashay! We gotta get our “God groove on” and go about the Father’s business. Amen?

I’m not sure if I will continue the monthly blog or do more Facebook posts but I do want to reflect more on the word and pray it more into my daily steps. How are you doing what God requires these days? I would love to hear about it.

RenaeRoche2025