Prodigal: I wonder when this will stop.

Me: Till, then stay on your knees.

Prodigal: Amen

This is from the book The Finishing Touch by Charles Swindoll

The ancient prophet Micah isn’t exactly a household word. Too bad. Though obscure, the man had his stuff together. Eclipsed by the much more famous Isaiah, who ministered among the elite, Micah took God’s message to the streets….

Micah states exactly what many, to this day, wonder about pleasing God. Teachers and preachers have made it so sacrificial, so complicated, so extremely difficult. To them, God is virtually impossible to please. Therefore, religion has become a series of long, drawn-out, deeply painful acts designed to appease this peeved Deity in the sky who takes delight in watching us squirm.

Micah erases the things on the entire list, replacing the complicated possibilities with one of the finest definitions of simple faith:

He has told you, O man, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justice, to love kindness,

And to walk humbly with your God? (Mic. 6:8)

God does not look for big-time, external displays….What is required? Slow down and read the list aloud: To do justice….to love kindness….and to walk humbly with your God. Period.

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Psalms 124:7 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org.