Dr H Reflections

Have mercy ∙

Have mercy ∙

LORD, have mercy on me. – Psalms 9:13

Luke 18:9-14

9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:

10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.”

11 “The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!’

12 ‘I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’”

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’”

14 “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

The Judds were an American country music duo consisting of lead vocalist Wynonna Judd and her mother, Naomi Judd. As one of the most successful acts in country music history, The Judds released six studio albums between 1983 and 1991. They earned five Grammy Awards for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group and nine Country Music Association awards. Additionally, they achieved 14 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

The Judds released “Have Mercy” in September 1985. It became their fifth number-one song on the country chart.

Have mercy on me

You treat me so bad I’m in misery

It’s breaking my heart, can’t you see

Baby, baby, have mercy on me

Have mercy

The Jesus Prayer is a short formulaic, simple, mantra-like prayer:

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

The Jesus Prayer holds a significant place in Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition and is often referred to as the “prayer of the heart.” Throughout the history of the Orthodox Church, it has been deeply revered, widely taught, and fervently discussed. As part of personal devotion and meditation, the prayer is traditionally recited continuously, emphasizing humility, repentance, and the acknowledgment of human fallibility while seeking mercy and grace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Partial snippets are found in the Old Testament. Psalms 9:13 LORD, have mercy on me.

The Jesus Prayer is quite similar to the prayer made by a tax collector in Luke 18.

The story portrays two men with contrasting attitudes. One, a Pharisee, was self-assured in his religious beliefs and practices. He felt he lacked nothing, so he requested nothing and received nothing. On the other hand, a tax collector recognized and acknowledged his spiritual poverty. He sought much, received much through his humble request, and was shown great mercy by the Father.

REFLECT & PRAY

Good and caring parents are merciful and gracious. They want only the best for their children and discipline them with love because they love them.

Father, thank You for disciplining me with love and mercy. Thank You for always remembering mercy!

INSIGHT

Grace is getting what you do not deserve

Mercy is not getting what you do deserve

Mercy involves the compassionate treatment of those in distress, particularly individuals under one’s power or control.

Cats are renowned for their effectiveness in eliminating vermin like rats and mice from human homes and buildings. However, observing a cat with its prey reveals a different story. The scene is the epitome of a lack of mercy. Initially, the cat captures the mouse, only to play with it and tease it before ultimately killing it. Why? This behavior is driven by instinct, a common trait among felines worldwide. It amuses the cat but is far from enjoyable for the mouse. Why do they act this way? Simply because they can.

The New Testament advises us to walk wisely and circumspectly, much like a cautious cat (Ephesians 5:15). It also commands us to show mercy, urging us not to withhold it. Instead of giving people what we think they deserve, we are called to extend compassion.

This is how the Father treated us.

How do you envision the Father? When you picture Him, what comes to mind? Do you see a loving Father with outstretched arms eager to lavish you with love and care? Or do you imagine a stern, critical, and somewhat wrathful judge?

The Father is a little bit of both.

Deuteronomy 13:18 The LORD your God will be merciful only if you listen to his voice and keep all his commands.

The Father responds to our thoughts and actions, engaging with us in real-time as we walk through life with Him. When we are faithful and live by His principles, we bring joy to His heart. However, when we violate His principles, there are times when the Father reacts with anger.

Isaiah 54:8 In a burst of anger, I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love, I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer.

He is the Father of mercies, the all-merciful Father, the gentle Father, or simply the merciful Father. Even in His wrath, He remains merciful. He is not prone to anger but instead filled with loyal love and devotion for His children. His displeasure is fleeting. The Father’s abundant warmth and tender love far outweigh His brief moments of chastisement. His discipline is short-lived when compared to His everlasting love.

The psalmist asked, LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? (Psalm 130:3). The answer is clear: no one. Even when God must judge sin, He continues to show mercy (Stanley).

Habakkuk 3:2 In wrath, remember mercy.

We are to be just like Him!

Luke 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

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Son of Encouragement ∙∙

Son of Encouragement ∙∙

There was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). – Acts 4:36

1 Thessalonians 5:11-18

11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

16 Always be joyful.

17 Never stop praying.

18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

An encourager is essentially someone who “inspires with courage.” They infuse others with courage while instilling spirit, hope, and motivation. They are akin to an excellent sports coach who inspires players to believe in themselves and do their best. Such coaches don multiple hats: they are trainers, counselors, confidants, nurturers, guides, leaders, mentors, shepherds, and tutors. Their objective lies not only in developing talent but also in character building.

Based in Austin, Texas, Coach ‘Em Up, LLC is a firm that offers year-round basketball and volleyball programs for elementary and middle school students in the Austin vicinity. Their business is built upon the belief in the positive impact of robust and precise coaching and the comprehension and importance of age-appropriate progression and instruction.

“Be an Encourager: When you encourage others, you boost their self-esteem, enhance their self-confidence, make them work harder, lift their spirits, and make them successful in their endeavors. Encouragement goes straight to the heart and is always available. Be an encourager. Always” (Roy T. Bennett).

“Yelling at living things does tend to kill the spirit in them. Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts . . .” (Robert Fulghum).

In American culture, we might say that an acorn does not fall far from the tree, meaning that one is not that different from one’s parent. It can be expressed, “Kids are like their parents, a chip off the old block; like Father, like son.”

In the Jewish culture, a similar concept is expressed by the phrase “son of.” It highlights the distinctive qualities or characteristics which distinguish a person.

Acts 4:36 Joseph was one of the apostles nicknamed Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement.”

Perhaps Barnabas was a natural-born encourager, or maybe he had the spiritual gift of encouragement. He earned the epithet “Son of Encouragement” or “Son of Consolation,” indicative of his positive influence.

Upon closer inspection, the nickname Barnabas reveals some interesting nuances not readily apparent on the surface. The Greek word for encourager or encouragement is parakletos, so we might expect his nickname to be Barparakletos, not Barnabas. But Barnabas is not derived from Greek; rather, it is either Hebrew or Aramaic. Bar, in Hebrew, translates to son, and nabasis a variation of the Hebrew word for prophet.

This is even more confusing because prophets tend to be spokesmen and confronters, not comforters. However, at times, prophets were tasked with providing solace to people. Hence, the name Barnabas encapsulates this dual role of a prophet – comforter and confronter.

Isaiah 40:1-2

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone, and her sins are pardoned.

When children of the King are born again, the Father sovereignly endows them with spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift can be described as a skill or talent that enables one to perform a specific task effortlessly and teach others to do the same. Billy Graham, for instance, had the gift of evangelism. He could easily spread the gospel to others and taught countless people to do the work of an evangelist.

So perhaps what we see in Barnabas is a man transformed from a harsh, confrontive prophet to a soft, tender, gentle, encouraging, comforting prophet.

Barnabas was recognized for his kindness and support towards others (Acts 9:26-27; 11:22-26; 15:37). In this way, he embodies the ideal of a servant-leader. Barnabas demonstrates that he is indeed a true disciple of Lord Jesus Christ, who was the ultimate servant-leader.

The apostle Paul implores each child of the King to encourage and comfort others.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Instead of belittling, criticizing, passing judgment, yelling at, tearing down, or intimidating others, we should set a goal and purpose to “coach ‘em up.”

REFLECT & PRAY

No doubt the “Son of Encouragement” was himself encouraged by the Father. Pause for a moment and consider what it would be like to be mentored by the Father through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Father, encourage me to become a source of encouragement and uplift others in the same manner You have encouraged me.

INSIGHT

Perhaps there’s a message of hope for each one of us here. We’re not bound by what we were born with. The Father has the power to bring about changes that go beyond the natural or normal. He is able to transform a person’s character and personality from the inside out. Every child of the King has the freedom and capacity to let the Father do precisely that for us. We are capable of becoming whatever the Father wants us to be. The Father has a beautiful dream for each of His children.

Take for instance, John and his brother James. At the beginning of the Gospels, they were referred to as the sons of thunder (Mark 3:17). They were known for their quick temper, zeal, and ambition. They were demanding, passionate, fiery, intolerant, brash, reckless, stubborn, and impulsive. They were ready and willing to call down fire on the Samaritans.

Luke 9:54-56

54 When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of;

56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

How amazing, this same John became known as the Apostle of Love.

We observe a remarkable change in John. He is transformed from a reckless, quick-tempered son of thunder to the beloved disciple. His gospel is filled with his profound love for Lord Jesus Christ, and his epistles even more so. Initially, he wasn’t characterized by such love and compassion. This love wasn’t innate; it was cultivated. It was not the product of nature but rather nurture. He acquired it from time spent with the Lord Jesus Christ on earth and decades of walking with Him. The perfect servant-leader coached ‘em up.’

James 1:19-20

19 But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be, and he will become as he can and should be (Stephen R. Covey).

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God don’t make no junk! ∙

God don’t make no junk! ∙

For we are God’s masterpiece. – Ephesians 2:10

Isaiah 64:8 O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.

Isaiah 29:16 How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”? Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid”?

Many individuals grapple with what they think of themselves and their self-image. “Self-image sets the boundaries of individual accomplishment” (Maxwell Maltz). “Your self-image is the result of all you have given your subconscious mind as a database, so regardless of your background, what you are willing to become is the only reality that counts” (Paul J. Meyer). “A poor self-image is a magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat” (David D. Burns).

How is it possible to overcome such a self-imposed deficit?

Ethel Waters, the magnificent vocalist, showed the way. Ethel was conceived because of the rape of her 13-year-old mother. Ethel’s early life was a testament to resilience. Ethel survived an unbelievable childhood filled with extreme poverty, daily hunger, and scorn. She was shuffled from one relative to another: aunts, a grandmother, even a neighbor. She was constantly relocating, had never lived in the same place for more than 15 months, and had a tough childhood. She wrote in her autobiography, “I never was a child. I never was cuddled, liked, or understood by my family.” She married at the age of 13 but was soon divorced. While at a costume party in Philadelphia, she was persuaded to sing two songs. She captivated the audience. This was her turning point. She was soon hired to sing at the Lincoln Theatre in Baltimore.

Despite everything, she had great faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. She became an integral part of the Billie Graham Crusades. She had a commanding stage presence. She exuded a kind-heartedness and folksy charm. She made even irreligious people feel at ease. Her signature song was “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.”

The first stanza is:

Why should I feel discouraged and why should the shadows come?

Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home?

When Jesus is my portion, a constant Friend is He,

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Ethel Waters is responsible for the well-known saying, “I am somebody cause God don’t make no junk!” With that attitude and opinion of herself, she overcame the tremendous troubles and adversities of her difficult life.

“The ‘self-image’ is the key to human personality and human behavior. Change the self-image, and you change the personality and the behavior” Maxwell Maltz.

If you think you are junk, you behave accordingly and act like junk. But if you believe that the Father doesn’t make junk, then you cannot possibly be junk. It can be a life-changing turning point for anyone, particularly children of the King. Knowing that He does not make junk provides exceptional comfort, hope, optimism, and gratitude in the hearts of those who realize it. David came to this realization.

Psalms 139:13-17

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it.

15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!

REFLECT & PRAY

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are” (John Wooden).

Father, the thought that You delight in me and took great joy and pleasure in making me just the way I am is almost beyond comprehension. Encourage me to walk in the truth that I am Your masterpiece in the making.

INSIGHT

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,

We are the Father’s “workmanship,” that is, His “poem,” His “work of art.” When Paul refers to children of the King as masterpieces, Paul sees us as a work in progress. He speaks of us as a new creation in the Lord Jesus Christ.

How does the Greek language in the New Testament emphasize things? Instead of employing underlines, highlights, or exclamation marks, it uses the word order. Emphasis is placed on a word that is out of its “expected” position.

In Greek, the word “His” takes precedence, translating to “His work we are” (UBS). We are the product of His intelligent design and meticulous and thoughtful handiwork. Each child of the King is the Father’s spiritual re-creation. It commenced in this life when we became children of the King. It will continue into all eternity. We are a work in progress.

The word translated as “masterpiece, handiwork, workmanship, or work of art” is poiema. “Poiema is used in classical times for the work of a craftsman, such as the making of a crown” (Hoehner). The English word poem comes from this Greek word. The noun poiemacomes from the Greek verb poieo, to do or make. The point is that He made us, He is Our Creator. He takes responsibility for us.

He is the Potter, and we are His clay. Knowing who the Potter is, it makes no sense to view ourselves as junk. We are His precious, beautiful works of art. “I am somebody cause God don’t make no junk!”

Isaiah 45:9-12

9 What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, “Stop, you’re doing it wrong!” Does the pot exclaim, “How clumsy can you be?”

10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father, “Why was I born?” or if it said to its mother, “Why did you make me this way?”

11 This is what the LORD says – the Holy One of Israel and your Creator: “Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?

12 I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands, I stretched out the heavens. All the stars are at my command.

Before our birth, the Father carefully planned and shaped us. When we were born again, our spiritual transformation commenced. This metamorphosis is an ongoing process. It will not be completed in this life. We are continually being transformed, moving from one level of glory to the next (2 Corinthians 3:18).

God seeks transformed lives, not just reformed ones. This transformation occurs as we train our minds to focus on the person of Jesus (Stanley).

Every child of the King has the privilege of undergoing daily transformation as we contemplate the glory of God revealed in His Word, especially in the living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. This results in gradual transformation as we grow in Christlikeness and reflect His glory through our character (Constable).

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Idealized idols ∙∙

Idealized idols ∙∙

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.- Romans 12:3

1 Timothy 1:12-16

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him,

13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.

14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them all.

16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

Dr. Saul Levine, M.D. wrote “Our Illusions of Role Models, Heroes, and Idols.” It was posted on December 22, 2017, in Psychology Today.

“Idols who inspire and reassure us are ordinary people, both worthy and flawed. You remember ‘role models,’ don’t you? You know, those people we looked up to when we were younger, whom we aspired to be like, and possibly now, whom we want our children to emulate?”

“As young children, our first role models are usually our parents, and it takes years for us to see them as people with frailties despite their impressive qualities. Adolescents and young adults form relationships with admired mentors at school or work. They often idealize their mentor until the realization sets in that despite some exceptional talents, this role model is an ‘ordinary’ person with attendant faults. Accepting our parents and mentors – and ourselves – as worthy but flawed can at times be challenging.”

The Scriptures are replete with heroes and role models. They are often bigger than life, ancient superheroes. Consider Moses, Abraham, Joseph, Samson, David, Daniel, Paul, and Peter. Church history has more recent superheroes and role models: Jonathan Edwards, Fanny Crosby, Amy Carmichael, Hudson Taylor, Watchman Nee, William Wilberforce, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Jim Elliott, Corrie Ten Boom, George Mueller, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Billy Graham. In all cases, they were indeed heroes of the faith, flawed but worthy of our admiration.

But when we look more closely, we often discover that they were ordinary people whom the Father used in extraordinary ways. For example, the prophet Amos herded sheep and was a fig picker.

Amos 7:14 I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs.

Moses apparently lacked self-esteem.

Exodus 3:11 Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

What’s more, Moses probably had some form of speech impediment.

Exodus 4:10 Moses pleaded with the LORD, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

Charles Spurgeon was often the object of extreme, dreadful criticism during his ministry. People had it in for him and were out to get him. Paraphrasing a bit, on one occasion, he suggested Brother, if anyone thinks poorly of you, do not be angry with him, for you are worse than he perceives. If he falsely accuses you on some point, be content, for if he knew you better, he might alter the accusation, and you would gain nothing from the correction. If your moral portrait is painted and appears ugly, be satisfied; it would only take a few darker strokes to make it even closer to the truth (Spurgeon – Volume 34, Sermons).

REFLECT & PRAY

1 Corinthians 1:26-28

26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.

27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

Father, help me be clear-headed and balanced in my thinking about myself and others. Thank You for using ordinary people in extraordinary ways.

INSIGHT

A continuum of self-worth characterizes fallen human DNA. Some feel unworthy, while others think they are superior and far better than others. We tend to idealize our heroes, but they are all fallen creatures needing forgiveness. Are any of them perfect? No, not one!

Paul got it right when he advised the children of the King in Rome. They tended to think too highly of themselves. Paul warned them, “Don’t think you are better than you really are” (Romans 12:3). What is left unsaid, but equally valid, don’t think you are worse than you really are.

This concept can be expressed in many ways in different cultures. Do not think of yourself more highly than you could be rendered as “Do not think that you yourselves are so high,” “Do not think of yourselves with a big head,” or “Do not say to yourselves, I am so very big, when you really are not” (UBS).

Instead, he provided a very balanced approach.

Romans 12:3 Think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

The Greek verb translated as “think” is phroneo. Phroneo does not refer to the thinking process itself but rather to “the direction of one’s thinking, the way in which a person views something.” In this context, Paul uses the verb to denote how a person views themselves (Moo).

In contrast to overestimating ourselves, Paul encourages all children of the King to view themselves in a “sober” manner. The Greek word translated as sound judgment, sober, or be honest in your evaluation is sophroneo, derived from sophron – meaning sober-minded. It signifies possessing a clear and rational mind, exhibiting reasonable thinking, and exercising sound, discreet, self-disciplined, and sensible judgment.

We should view ourselves and others as ordinary individuals, each possessing both worth and flaws. While the strengths of others can be a source of inspiration, we should avoid elevating those we admire to a superhuman status akin to the gods of Greek and Roman mythology or the heroes of legends and myths.

It is wise not to let the successes or achievements of others make you feel ashamed or condemned. The Scriptures aim to inspire us by recounting the lives and deeds of faithful children of the King, ordinary people whom the Father used in extraordinary ways. These individuals lived, acted, and died in faith, demonstrating that the same is possible for each of us (Hebrews 11).

As children of the King, we are not to live horizontally, looking back to the past or forward to the future in this life. Instead, we are to focus on looking up!

Psalms 121:1-2

1 I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there?

2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!

Revelation 22:20 “I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

It can be frustrating when the material you are accustomed to reading or hearing doesn’t meet your expectations and fails to enhance your walk with the Father. In such situations, consider changing your sources.

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Be kind ∙∙

Be kind ∙∙

The LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8

Ephesians 4:31-32

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind” (Henry James).

Since the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11), communication has been a problem between people. It is perhaps worse today in our day of polarized and antithetical political views. Is there a universal language we could all speak that would allow us to communicate and understand one another?

The simple answer – is yes! Kindness!

Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see (Mark Twain).

Kindness is a state of being that includes loving affection, sympathy, friendliness, patience, pleasantness, gentleness, and goodness.

Some folks seem gifted with a tender heart and a kind spirit. You can spot them anywhere. People who need loving care, sympathy, mercy, gentleness, and understanding are attracted to them. Simply follow the crowd.

But for the rest of us, it is not so simple. We get hurt and offended, we bear grudges, we close ourselves off from human relationships, and we dry up inside and become hard.

Anger is an acid that can harm the vessel in which it is stored more than anything on which it is poured (Mark Twain). “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle” (Plato).

Of all the possible things we could do to please the Father, what matters most? The Father has made Himself clear on this matter. Kindness is at the core of what we ought to be and do. It is not a suggestion; it is a requirement. Simply stated, if we are not choosing to be kind, we violate one of His prime directives.

Micah 6:6-8

6 What can we bring to the LORD? What kind of offerings should we give him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves?

7 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?

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.

Micah 6:8 unequivocally answers the question. It rules out the possibilities of the previous two verses. Micah, the prophet himself, speaks for the Father. The Father tells us what He requires: to do what is just, show kindness, and live in humble fellowship with our God.

Without a right relationship with the Father, this is impossible, and all outward pretense and ceremony are useless and vain (UBS).

To act with justice and equity involves maintaining right and fair relationships.

The Hebrew term for kindness is “hesed.” It is often translated as kindness, lovingkindness, reliability, faithfulness, mercy, and loyal love. The third phrase is literally “to walk humbly with your God,” which means not insisting on our own way but readily doing what the Father desires of us.

Hesed is one of the most beautiful and fascinating words used in the Old Testament to describe the Father. It is profound and multifaceted. The Father has many attractive characteristics, personality traits, and attributes, but perhaps one of the most delightful of all is His lovingkindness.

The Father requires us to be just like Him when dealing with others.

REFLECT & PRAY

I’ve made so many poor choices. Is there one decision I wish I could change? Absolutely. I would have chosen to be kind and tenderhearted.

Father, it deeply grieves me that I have been hardhearted and resistant to simple acts of kindness and forgiveness. Help me to be tender, gentle, and accepting of others as You are with me. Let me start anew and walk in a new way.

INSIGHT

The Father’s tenderhearted, lovingkindness is seen in the story of the prodigal (Luke 15:11-32). The Father does not reject; He longs for reconciliation and restoration.

Luke 15:20-24

20 But while he was still far off, his father saw him, felt compassion, and ran, embraced, and kissed him.

21 And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy of being called your son.”

24 [And his father said,] this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found

The Father’s incredible compassion shines through in His gentle and tender approach towards those who have made serious mistakes and are feeling deeply ashamed and embarrassed. Instead of passing judgment, He extends forgiveness (John 8).

John 8:10-11

10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”

We have been drawn to the Father through His lovingkindness. How can we possibly emulate His beautiful and magnificent tender kindness in dealing with others?

Peter shows us the way.

1 Peter 3:8-12

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted and keep a humble attitude.

9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.

10 For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.

11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

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