Sep 23, 2013
Walking in Humility (Micah 6:8)
by Pastor Haywood Floyd
This short message was shared on Monday morning at our 2013 Conference in Colorado Springs. It got many people thinking and talking.
Our Conference theme this year is “Following in His Footsteps.” The verse that was selected for me was Micah 6:8—
“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.”
Considering the theme, I think the best way to follow in the footsteps of Jesus is to look at what He did, and then do it.
One day, the teachers of the Law brought to Jesus a woman who was caught in adultery (in John chapter 8). They asked Jesus what should be done with her since she should be stoned according to the Law.
He wrote in the sand for a bit, and then said that if anyone was there who had no sin, they should cast the first stone. Then he went back to writing in the sand.
Everyone left except Jesus and the woman.
“Did no one condemn you?” he asked. She said, “No one, Lord.” He said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”
Many of us pick this event apart, and ask, Where was the man? It takes two to commit the act of adultery, and by law, they both should be condemned! I would like to bring this into our world, and focus on us.
Thinking about God’s requirements in Micah 6:8, Jesus showed mercy to someone who was found guilty by the Law, and set her free from condemnation. Has this happened to you?
Jesus was also humble before her and his enemies. He did not allow their rage and taunts to affect his emotions, yet spoke directly to their hearts. He was not proud or arrogant, and gave each accuser the ability to choose their actions before God.
Has Jesus been humble with you? You may ask—according to Micah 6:8—where “Justice” is being shown, since she is not condemned. Her sin was brought to light in front of everyone. She will have to bear the shame of her actions in front of everyone, and hear their disappointment with her sentence.
Have you been set free from the condemnation of the Law? Did you escape the punishment that you deserve? Have others become witnesses of this? Is it just that they know about your sin, considering the sentence that you should have received? Does their witness give God glory, since others can be sure of forgiveness and mercy because of your living testimony?
I would like to look at this another way:
Do we have enemies? How are we supposed to treat them? Are we supposed to do our best to bring them before the Lord Jesus and see them condemned?
Here’s an example. The homosexual agenda in this country is very strong. Soon we will see our liberties of free speech and freedom of religion arrested because of this political movement. However, I would like us to consider this: What does the Lord require of you? “To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
There are many other sexual sins in our churches today that we do not address, just like the Jewish teachers did not bring forward the man caught in adultery. Divorce, adultery and fornication are among us. Which one of us has not sinned?
What does 1 John 1:10 say? Should we be condemning our political enemies or showing them the love of Jesus Christ?
Jesus did not condone adultery, nor do I condone homosexual acts. I am asking us to think about the parable of the Good Samaritan, and exchange the cliché with something more poignant. I would like to substitute “Samaritan” with “homosexual.” The Good Homosexual.
If the gay community shows more love for those in need than the church of Jesus Christ, isn’t that a shame to us? I told you that this was only an example.
If your enemies are found in another area, you know what to do. Let us walk humbly with our God, and extend the same love and salvation to our enemies that we have been shown.
