But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Shout for joy, O heavens;…rejoice, O earth;…burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones. Isaiah 49:13.

In our chapter, MIcah 6, Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, asks us what He has done to us that we should turn away from Him. Listen to what the Lord says: “Stand up, plead My case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. Hear, you mountains, the Lord’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against His people; He is lodging a charge against Israel. My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer Me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.” v. 1-5. That was ancient Israel. What about you and me? What if Creator God asked the same of us? Can you consider your life? And as in a court, Micah answers for the people: With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? v. 6-7. Is that truly what we think God wants? As though we could offer anything for the sins of our souls. He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. v. 8. With God…To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. When ancient Israel determined to walk after useless idols so they could do whatever they wanted, they walked away from the Creator God who created them and every created thing they saw. They walked in ill-gotten treasures, an accursed short ephah, dishonest scales, bags of false weights, violent rich people, inhabitants of liars, deceitful speakers, v. 9-12. Should God forget and let the people forever work what is sin and that brings terrible consequences? Listen! The Lord is calling to the city – and to fear Your name is wisdom – “Heed the rod and the One who appointed it.” v. 9. What did Creator God have against ancient Israel? You have observed the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their traditions. v. 16. Omri led the nation into idol worship and his son, Ahab, was the most wicked king in Israel; and under their traditions and rule, evil was pervasive. Therefore I will give you over to ruin and your people to derision; you will bear the scorn of the nations. v. 16. What about us?

We are those jars of clay and we break under evil and all of its suffering. Thank God’s goodness that we are. Even when we were dead in our transgressions…God being rich in mercy because of His great love for us, made us alive together with Christ by His grace. I loved this from Baxter Kruger in his book, Jesus and the Undoing of Adam, “This definition of sin is a typically legal understanding of sin as violation of the law of God. But sin is far more profound that breaking the law, either by failure to do what we should do, or by doing what we should not do. The catechism, as well as the whole legal orientation of Western theology, confuses the root with the fruit. The problem introduced by the Fall of Adam was not simply that humanity began breaking the rules. The problem was that humanity became diseased. The disease is the root problem. Breaking the law is the symptom.” All we need to do is take a look at the world around us and open our eyes to see, if we can stand it for long. That is us. That was them. And there is a better way and it is with Creator God. God’s abiding love is our life whether we realize it or not. He knows. And that is everything! May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and that you are in Me and I am in you. John 14:20. I realized something just yesterday but it has taken me many years with God’s help. I kept praying that when I give something I am worrying about to God, that I take my hands off of what He is holding. But that’s not what is truly happening. God isn’t holding what I am so tightly holding onto. I’m holding possessively onto what I think God should do. He is waiting ever so patiently for me to let go of whatever I think is good, while He is patiently working the good He knows is eternal. Not my good. And that is helping me today to truly trust God and let go of all I am holding onto so tightly. There is a new freedom in that. Instead of being scary, it’s affirming. Trusting Creator God is a journey of discovery. That journey with Him is personal and so very needed. I am a clay jar still being formed and healed and loved as I let my Creator do His wonderful work of redemption that only He sees…and so are you! I am learning to love His touch gently forming what is good and beautiful in all of us. He knows! And that is everything!