“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before God with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:6-8
We are grateful for God’s good gifts. In a time of COVID, in a time of national grief over the death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, in a time of civic unrest, we are all seeking ways to give thanks. The prophet Micah, I believe, gives us a fresh perspective on the nature of gratitude. “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?” Micah wonders what gift will satisfy or ever be enough for the God of the heavenly hosts. “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?” Indeed, what human gift can compare to what God has given us?
This year’s stewardship theme, With Grateful Hearts, reminds us that there is much to be grateful for in this life. We have our families, our homes, our health, people who love and support us, and we have our faith in God through Jesus Christ.
For the prophet Micah, opening the door to justice, of mercy, and walking humbly with God, begins with being grateful.
Gratitude leads to acts of grace and mercy. With grateful hearts, we turn to God for healing, peace, and justice. With grateful hearts, we turn to God in helping us through these challenging times. With grateful hearts, we offer our lives, our resources, our time, and our thanks.
Dedication Sunday is November 8, 2020. If you have questions or would like to request a packet, please reach out to Steve Brown at .
–Ken Henry, Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church