#JustReachOut

They had a history.

Micah 6:8 HCSB

Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.

Our text today comes from the Old Testament book of Micah. What was happening that the Prophet had to tell the people what God wanted. What is it that Jesus talks about in the New Testament when we read about the Good Samaratin, what’s happening when the disciples are having issues because people are neglecting widows and orphans, what is behind Jesus having compassion on people who are hungry and telling the disciples to feed them?

Micah has spent a good chunk of the book talking about Israel’s history, specifically as it relates to their failure to follow God’s plan. The children of Israel went through cycles when of obedience and obstinance, doing what they knew was right and then falling away and running after money, power, position, anything that would make them feel good. Micah is reminding them of all the things they have done to deserve God’s judgment, while at the same time talking about ways to come back to God, and the fact that God has a plan of redemption in place. Which is where comes in. Micah is being clear that God wants more than mechanics when it comes to living a life of faith. When we read about the people bringing all kinds of sacrifices, thousands of them even, or with streams of oil, or even giving over their firstborn to God, we find that this is not really what it’s about, this isn’t what God wants. With God it’s not really about the mechanics of the faith. With God it’s always about the heart behind the mechanics.

Three things!

Act Justly!

Somebody Stole my Teeth

Luke 18:1–8 HCSB

He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged: “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God or respect man. And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ “For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect man, yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so she doesn’t wear me out by her persistent coming.’ ” Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay to help them? I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find that faith on earth?”

Luke 18:1-8

Even when we don’t feel like it.

As followers of Christ we are supposed to be becoming more like Jesus.

This is Justice...

(HCSB) — 6 The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.

Jesus consistently reached out to the ones the important people didn’t want to be around. He had to talk to everyone about this though. He had to talk to the disciples about it when it was the widow, he had to talk to the scribes and pharisess when it was people that were needing healed or restored because they made mistakes. He consistently would reach out to anyone and everyone that desired a relationship with God that went beyond words and mechanics. He healed people. Talked to people, fed people, encouraged people, and rebuked people, and prayed for people, and poured into people no matter who they were. This is what it means to reach out. To not see a person as their sin, or their problem or their politics but to see a person as someone that needs a relationship with God. (why it’s important to meet needs before trying to preach truth)

2. Love Faithfulness

Love Faithfulness

Faithfulness:

the quality of being faithful, fidelity.

Faithful:

Strict or thorough in the performance of duty, true to ones word, promises, vows, etc. steady in allegiance of affection, loyal constant, reliable, trusted or believed.

God was faithful to the promise to redeem humanity. He wants us to be the same. He wants us to be faithful in the call he has given to every Christ follower. (go and do)

Matthew 25:35–36 HCSB

For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.’

Walk Humbly!

We have heard it said that there but for the grace of God go I. We must constantly filter everything we do through the lens of being human. Because that’s what God did when he decided to come to earth.

Philippians 2:5–8 HCSB

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

This Week’s Challenge

Ding Dong Do...

Think of someone in your neighborhood that you can give something to, a note, flowers, a gift card for a coffee and doughnut, then ring their bell set the gift down and run. Put a note just thinking of you..#justreachout tell us on Facebook when you did it.