Religion & Spirituality
By Charlie Lacey | Micah 6: 1-8 and Matthew 25: 31-40The Lord’s Case Against IsraelListen 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.”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?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.Micah 6:1-8New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The Sheep and the Goats“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 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 invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’Matthew 25: 31-40New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.