Jeremiah 22:3
Thus says the LORD: “Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. NKJV
Two things that God hates are pride and arrogance. Our government is telling us to covet both. We are created to give God glory. How demoralized is our country in the hands of this MAGA administration. God save America from the hands of those who seek to destroy it. Two commandments were given to us by God, love Him above all and love our neighbors as much as we do our ourselves. In obedience to these two we fulfill all of the Law and the Testaments. Carla
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
•To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God? NKJV
This verse speaks of the underlying attitudes that must accompany all true worship. What does the Lord require of you: The idea here is that God seeks certain characteristics of true worship from His people. Do justly … love mercy … walk humbly. These phrases summarize biblical piety in true worship. The majority of the people of Israel had violated each of these standards repeatedly. The rulers did not know justice (3:1), had no interest in mercy (3:2, 3), and demonstrated no humility (3:11).
It is the Lord who ultimately gives a person strength, courage, and ability to exercise the virtues of godly living. The NKJV Study Bible
What does Yahweh ask from you? This verse gives the answer to the question the prophet asked in Micah 6:6–7.
What God requires is heartfelt love and obedience.
A proper relationship with God also involves a proper relationship with one’s neighbor.
The Hebrew word for kindness often occurs in reference to Yahweh’s covenant with Israel (Deuteronomy 7:9, 12; 1 Kings 8:23; Nehemiah 1:5).
This Hebrew word for humbly occurs only here in the Old Testament. It traditionally has been understood as referring to humility, but it most likely indicates carefulness or thoughtfulness. Faithlife Study Bible
Deuteronomy 10:12–13
“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?
Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble,
And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
“I am one, but still I am one; I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; And just because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” Thank you, Helen Keller.
We are in the same human family, so let us embrace empathy. Let us be unafraid of a willingness to learn and grow and change. Let us no longer be afraid of sad or lonely. Because the ordinary is indeed the hiding place for the holy.
And with our eyes open, the ordinary becomes a place where light is spilled, and where very simple gestures make a profound difference in the world around us.
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Jane Goodall encouraged us.
So, yes. We do make a difference.
And yes. Small gestures matter. Grounding us in humility and dignity and compassion.
There is no doubt that we do give ourselves grief.
And in those moments, let us take Mother Teresa’s words to heart, “If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”
Bottom line; gratefully, indifference is not an option.
Today, I can choose to be kind. I can choose to be generous. I can choose to be inclusive. I can choose to not demean or shame.
I am so grateful to Pope Leo for his continual reminders. “To be a peacemaker is no easy matter: it forces us out of our comfort zones of distraction and indifference and may well be resisted by those who have an interest in perpetuating conflicts… Do not be afraid. Be sprouts of peace where the seed of hatred and resentment is growing; be weavers of unity where polarization and enmity prevail; be the voice of those who have no voice to ask for justice and dignity; be light and salt where the flame of faith and the taste for life are fading.” (Pope Leo XIV recently speaking to young adult Catholics.) Sabbath Moments
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