The Function of Worship is Foundational: We Fight for What is Right

Scripture: Micah 6:8

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?

Insights: Today we switch our focus from the form of worship which is a facade and begin to look at how the function of worship is foundational to our walk with the Lord.  For the remainder of this week we are going to be hanging out in verse eight.  Micah, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives us three aspects of worship that are acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.  The key to the following three sub points is this:  it is not about us, it is about Him!  J. Vernon McGee states, “External religion without an internal experience, without reality on the inside is absolutely valueless.”  In other words, before anything can transpire in the external, it must first be experienced in the internal.  The very first area we are to worship the Lord is in regards to justice.  Again, we are not able to do justly, or fight for what is right, unless we have been justified by faith and are right with God.  Even my sentence carries with it the connotation that we first experience justice from the Lord internally, and then, we are able to dispense proper justice externally because of our life change.  Psalm 32:1-2 states, “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!  How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!”  This verse helps us to recognize our ability to fight for what is right, justice, is based on the Lord imputing into us the blessing of recognizing injustice when we see it.  The Lord then works in and through us to fight for those who are experiencing this injustice.  Beloved, let me encourage you to look around your world today.  Look specifically for those injustices that prick your heart.  Then pray to the Lord to give you courage and wisdom to fight for what is truly right for those situations.  Finally, do the hard thing and defend those who are in need of defense and when they ask you why you are fighting for them, tell them it is because of Jesus.  Let them see you worshipping the Lord in your fight for what is right!

Questions:

1.  What injustices do you see everyday?

2.  In what ways are you capable of fighting for the rights of those who are experiencing these injustices?

Prayer: Father, it is very scary to stand up for what is right many times in this world.  Please grant me the courage to do what is right in the midst of opposition and hostility from those who practice evil in this world.  Let me see this world with the eyes of Jesus and fight for what Jesus fights.  Amen.