Morning Devotional
August  3, 2005
"A Preacher"      
    by Don Emmitte

What can we bring to the LORD to make up for what we've done? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and tens of thousands of rivers of olive oil? Would that please the LORD? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for the sins of our souls? Would that make him glad? No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:6-8 NLT).

 

I really love the looks I get when I tell folks that I am an ordained minister. Being in the car business these last six years has afforded me an extraordinary look at how the secular world views the organized church. I especially like the retort I get from those who are surprised that I am in car sales. It usually goes something like this: "Ya know? You're not like any other preacher I've ever known." I'm never quite sure how to respond. Should I offer a thank you or should I APOLOGIZE?

 

Expectations can be pretty intimidating. It can be tough to know exactly what a person, a family member, an audience or even what your church might be requiring of you. As a minister and as a writer and speaker who is "out there" most of the time, I've had to sift through the expectations of people. I've had to sort them right down to what it is that is truly required of me. And I’m sure it is no surprise to you that I have condensed it down to the scripture found in our reading today: "He has showed you, O man, 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."

 

What expectations do I need to meet? Only His! And He spells out for me in His Word what He requires: Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. If I'm striving for righteousness in the power of His Spirit and walking in integrity, and if I'm loving compassionately and loving others faithfully, and if I'm paying less attention to what I want and more to what He wants, devotedly and humbly obeying Him, then I don't need to worry about anyone else's expectations. His are the expectations I want to meet.

Still, I think I'll be rejoicing in the day I'm standing before him and I hear Him say the words, "Ya know? You're not like any other preacher I've ever created."

 

Think about these things today. What will you be greeted with as you come face to face with him someday?