Steadfast Love Wins Out


Micah 7:18-20
18Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.
19He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
20You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.

Micah is one of the Old Testament books whose pages might be “un-studied” by most of us. But the words of this minor prophet are written for us today, as well as the people of Judah 700 years before the birth of Jesus. Micah is sent by God to speak truth into the lives and hearts of the people. While their brothers in The Northern Kingdom (Israel) had fallen into idolatry and were soon to be dispersed into slavery by God, the people of The Southern Kingdom (Judah) were still keeping to the traditional ways of worshiping God. But – they had fallen into complacency where their faith was concerned. They were bringing the sacrifices, but their hearts were far from God. Micah speaks into that situation with conviction and power.

As we launch into the season of repentance called “Lent”, we too must spend some time examining our own hearts and faith. Do we find ourselves going through the motions of a serious relationship with God without engaging our hearts? Imagine you were in a marriage or serious relationship and the other person only gave you a cursory conversation now and then. How long would you stay in that situation? How satisfying would you find those conversations? Micah levels those charges at his listeners and we must pay attention to them as well. One of Satan’s greatest weapons against us is complacency or apathy. Sure, I might be present in church on Sunday morning, but while I’m there, I’m more concerned about what the other worshipers think of me, what I might have for lunch that day, or how much I’m going to enjoy watching the big game that afternoon. It’s easy to be sitting in church and be far from God all at the same time.

Into those challenges, Micah inserts pure hope in the form of forgiveness. He reminds us that God is in the business of pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression. For God, steadfast love and mercy always win out over His anger over the sin of His children. Jesus’ blood mitigated that wrath and now God sees us as holy. As you have the ashes applied to your forehead this Ash Wednesday, take a moment to enter into this time of repentance and remember that the God of the Universe gave up His life for you. Delight with Him in His steadfast love and embrace what you have been given.

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