Not What You Want To Hear

Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you, “I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!” That’s just the kind of prophet you would like! [Micah 2.11]

The fact is, none of us want to hear the message of repentance. We want to hear something that will make us feel good about ourselves.

In this passage, that is precisely what was taking place. The prophet Micah scolded the people because they said, “Don’t say such things,” the people respond. “Don’t prophesy like that. Such disasters will never come our way!” [Micah 2.6]

I hear this same thing all the time when I insist that repentance is necessary in the Church - people say, "Grace, grace!" as if Jesus died so all of us can do what we want to do with no regard for holiness and righteousness.

Jesus died so we no longer are responsible to sacrifice animals. His death was not a license for us to rampantly sin! His blood has no effect on the unrepentant soul! Salvation is for the broken and contrite spirit. Faith is our assurance that we don't need to offer the blood of animals in addition to our repentance. But we still need to repent! Jesus started off His ministry on earth declaring, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"

So, what are we to do? REPENT and thank God that Jesus negated the need for animal sacrifices!

Father, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for relieving us from the burden of sacrificing animals. Thank You that, in Jesus' name, we can repent and reap the benefit of His shed blood which washes away all sin!