Saturday, February 11, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading 
Micah 6:1–8

Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. “O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.”

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (NRSV)

Reflection
“My people what have I ever done to you?” asks the Lord. I can relate to this feeling.

When my good intentions are met with frustration from loved ones, coworkers, or fellow drivers on the Kennedy, I lament, “What have I ever done to you?”

I can list off acts in my head that I’ve done for others that should trigger empathy rather than criticism. In these moments, I must also reflect on how I respond to hardships. Do I revel in what I’ve lost? Do I marinate on what my peers or rivals have that I don’t? How have I treated the abundance of grace the Lord has bestowed on me? Have I been a good steward of the gifts from the Lord?

When we face setbacks do we turn to blame or scapegoat those that are different from us? In those moments of doubt, I want to remember that the Lord calls us to “do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.”

Prayer
Dear gracious Lord, help us be salt and light to our neighbors across Chicago. Help us see your grace and forgiveness when we fall short or lose our way. Help us do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with you, God. Amen.

Written by Ranjan Daniels, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email