“I was the prodigal son!”
The LORD God has told us what is right and what he demands: “See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God.”
[Micah 6:8] also see [Luke 15:11-32]
Paul writes:
In early childhood and youth, my family gave me a good start toward knowing and receiving Christ into my life. However, as soon as I left home for college and military service, I abandoned Church and Christ. The focus in my life was on self and how I could gain wealth and have fun in the process. College life was more about partying with friends, drinking in excess, and having a good time with girls and friends. One year of study at La Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Lima, Peru was an adventure in immorality and wild living. This same lifestyle of living for the present and self-indulgence continued the first two years of my military service.
At age of 24 I began to feel my life was empty of meaning, that I was alone, and not having any fun that seemed to be a focus of my self-centered lifestyle over the previous four years.
My achievements in academic studies was only average. Friendships were established but they were very superficial and did not last long. My memory kept returning to a significant experience I had in Cuzco, Peru. While walking down a street in this city that bordered on a muddy barnyard for swine, I noticed a poor Peruvian family that was actually living in a pigsty in the midst of this mud and stench. In the midst of my comfort was much suffering and need in the world.
I had been raised as a young Christian, knowing all the stories of the Old and New Testament and teachings of Jesus Christ. But, I ignored the lessons learned, I turned away from Christ. I could not get the experience of seeing the poor Peruvian family, living in a pig barnyard, from my mind. I saw the parallel between my lifestyle and the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. The son left for a life of debauchery and wild-living. He squandered his inheritance on drunken parties, material things and fun that ended in a life of sin without meaning. Yet, when he returned home to his father he was forgiven and he was received with unconditional love.
I recognized that Christ was my only hope for salvation. I started to go back to the church. I felt a joy and peace in church and prayer that I had never felt before. It came only when I asked forgiveness for my sins and declared faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. I knew my focus must turn first to a love of Christ and second to a love for others. My new Christian friends were deep friendships that helped and supported me. I started volunteering my time as a leader of a Boy Scout Troop.
The Forgiving Father and cleansing blood of His Son turned my life around.
A commitment to love for my family and service in the community has continued through the rest of my life. The maturing of my Christian life has grown to an active discipleship that I try to follow every day. I hope I have been able to clearly share how Jesus Christ entered my life, changed me from the inside, and let the Holy Spirit be in control of my actions.
I would end with a scripture verse from Micah 6:8 TNIV “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Please note that the views expressed in this story are not necessarily the views of the American Bible Society. Story posted on March 27th, 2006 and filed under Your Stories, Christian Families, Grace, Overcoming sin, Most Popular Stories.
March 29th, 2006 at 9:32 am
Micah 6:8 can be a confusing verse for me. How does one know what the Lord really requires? There is so much we are supposed to do as Christians that, if I’m being honest, it overwhelms me. Any advice?
March 31st, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Micah 6:8 is “in response” to Micah 6:6, 7. Israel as worshiper asks what offering is needed to placate the LORD (see also Psalm 24 and Isaiah 33:13-16) , proposing increasingly extravagant gifts, ending with child sacrifice. All these material offerings are rejected (verse 8 ) in favor of qualities of character and behavior that are so lacking in Israel at that time (see Isaiah 1:10-17; Jeremiah 6:20; 7:1-15; Amos 5:21-24).
The people’s questions (verses 6, 7 ) were preoccupied with what they could do to please God through religious ritual and ceremony. Micah clearly states that God is more interested in the way people live their everyday lives than in their religious practices.
The threefold summary of what God expects (verse 8 ) is a general summary in which several very important biblical words appear: justice, kindness, love.
Justice is something that people do; it is not enough to wish for justice or to complain because it is lacking. This is a dynamic concept that calls on God’s people to work for fairness and equality for all, particularly the weak and powerless who are exploited by others. Kindness relates to love, loyalty, and faithfulness. It can be used to describe the key elements in relationships, whether in marriage or between human friends, or between God and humanity. It is not enough to maintain covenant faithfulness (whether on the human level or between humans and God) out of duty or fear of punishment. We are to love God – to be faithful to our covenant partner – as God loves us (see 1 John 4:19). Faithfulness to God is motivated by love. We are to walk with God, careful to put God first (see Exodus 20:3, 4) and to live in conformity with God’s will. Our life pilgrimage is likened to a walk with God as our constant companion.
These key verses (6-8) from Micah are about lifestyle, one’s total outlook on life, and one’s ethical values. See also Isaiah 58:1-14. In the New Testament (Romans 12:1-21), the apostle Paul calls us to live a life that is pleasing to God and provides guidelines for Christian living.
Sources consulted: The New Interpreter’s Study Bible (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003); The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, Volume VII (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996).
We hope this information answers your question.
God’s blessings in your continued studying of the Holy Scriptures.
Yours sincerely,
Barbara Bernstengel
Director
Education Unit
Nida Institute for Biblical Scholarship
February 22nd, 2007 at 9:57 am
My dear brother in Christ the Lord,
Will you believe me that when I was reading your story I was being filled with joy and spirit. How wonderful the Lord our God is. He can, out of his love, forgive our sins and cast them away, no matter what they are.
May the Lord our God keep strengthing and empowering you daily so that you can impart that strength and power to others who are lost and are far far away away from the Lord and, therefore, can not taste the sweetnes of His (Father’s) love.
Your brother in Christ,
Sadiq Waryam
Senior Elder
New York
Roots and Wings Ministries International