Micah: What Does the Lord Require?

Micah 6:8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁸ He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?

Walking through this life in a pleasing manner to God is outlined in the above verse.  The Lord requires several characteristics of personality that are not always apparent in His Bride.  

But as His fire burns away our impurities, what remains is pure, pure gold.

Tests and trials may be designed by the evil one for our destruction, BUT God is Sovereign and allows us to endure them for our own good.  

Could is be that that difficult season we are walking through teaches us humility by cultivating our trust in God alone?  

Or when faced with someone who we think is "in sin," what is our response?

Do we offer kindness and mercy?  

Are we honorable and fair in our dealings with others or do we demonstrate partiality with those we call friends?

Father, empower us by Your Spirit to fulfill Your directive.  We are acutely aware that we need Your grace to walk through this life, pleasing You.  We ask for Your help, not because we think we can earn our way to You, but because we love You and desire to be good children.  All for the glory of Jesus, AMEN!

2 Chronicles 27; Isaiah 9-12: A Branch Shall Grow and Bear Fruit

Isaiah 11:1-2
Amplified Bible (AMP)


"11 And there shall come forth a Shoot out of the stock of Jesse [David’s father], and a Branch out of his roots shall grow and bear fruit.

2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord—..."


Approximately ten years ago, I had a spiritual experience. I saw a branch with six buds on it. As I gazed at the branch, a white dove flew down and alighted on it. Suddenly, the buds blossomed into beautiful, white flowers. I had had what is referred to as a vision. Not understanding what I had just seen, I sought the Lord for understanding of the imagery. God answered me through the above verse.

Later, I read Numbers 17, which increased my insight into the visual message the Lord had given. In brief, the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron accusing them of initiating a plague that had killed 14,700 people. However, This was not the case as Numbers 16:36-38 states,


36 And the Lord said to Moses,

37 Speak to Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning and scatter the fire at a distance. For the censers are hallowed—

38 The censers of these men who have sinned against themselves and at the cost of their own lives. Let the censers be made into hammered plates for a covering of the altar [of burnt offering], for they were used in offering before the Lord and therefore they are sacred. They shall be a sign [of warning] to the Israelites.

emphasis mine

Numbers 17 goes on to say that one rod for the head of each father's house should be presented before the Lord. The rod that buds and produces blossoms and yields ripe almonds is the man/house that God chose, and it was Aaron from the house of Levi.

I felt the Lord was telling me that I was called to be a Levite, the priestly tribe that ministered before the Lord. In addition, as the Holy Spirit influenced my life, I would bloom with the Spiritual fruit as listed above...wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord.

Writing this post today, I ask Holy Spirit,

Have I allowed You to grow these spiritual characteristics in me?

Lord, my life cannot bear blossoms and eventually fruit without Your influence. Come upon me this day, Spirit. Fill my vessel, cause me to lay down my life once again in obedience to You. Live through me, Jesus. Empower me, Lord, to walk through this life with the tools needed to be effective in my personal life, as well as, influencing others' lives. All for Jesus, AMEN!

http://www.ehow.com/about_6632257_symbolism-almond-trees.html

http://www.learnthebible.org/sunday-school-outlines/aarons-rod-that-budded.html

Spiritual Self-evaluation

Reprint from my Facebook status from November 7th.


Spiritual self-evaluation is a periodic necessity.

Holy Spirit, examine my heart-it's motives, thoughts and attitudes. My desire is that no earthly thing would influence my soul in a way that is displeasing to You.

Give me the grace to forgive continued and longstanding offenses. You forgave me, Lord! Touch those who have no comprehension of how their actions, words and attitudes have hurt me and others.

Holy Spirit sensitize us to You...Your ways, Your attitudes, Your Holiness!!! Break down our self-erected walls of which the evil one has had little influence, except an occasional whispering lie.

You are my Defense! You are my Desire! You give joy that cannot be snuffed out by circumstances. Your fruit draws others to You when that fruit is truly grown by the Spirit's influence.

It's not about a human personality, whether charismatic or sweet. It's all about representing Your character through the uniqueness You have woven into each of us.

I come to You again this day of November 7th, 2012 at 10:57 am, asking for grace, requiring Your power to flow through me.

My life will make a difference for You, Lord. I will touch others for You, stirring life and hope. Prince of Peace, be my Guide. No thing can be accomplished through striving, but only through submitting to You.

I am Yours...FOREVER!

Your own,
Beautiful Grace