Hey Kids!

As we finish up studying the Old Testament in Kids Church we are spending a short time going over the main themes of the Minor Prophets. The Minor Prophets are the Old Testament prophets who wrote smaller books. Their message was still very important and we can still learn from them today. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, and many more they were men who stood for the Lord despite the opposition.

Joel was a prophet who warned of the coming day of the Lord. When the Bible speaks of the day of the Lord it refers to God?s special interventions into the course of world events to judge His enemies and accomplish His purposes in His sovereignty. In the midst of all that gloom and judgment, God says also that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. That is quoted in Romans as Paul the apostle gives the appeal to them about turning their hearts to God. God has used men and war to bring about judgment and He has used natural disasters as well. Jesus mentions Joel in Matthew 24:21,29 and repeats that the day of the Lord is a time of great distress, the hardest time anyone on earth has ever seen. Some prophecies we read may make us nervous or seem a little scary because of God?s great power, but how good to have His heart of love speaks to us through the same book. He is faithful to remind us that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Through Amos God gave the warning that if Israel didn?t repent they would be destroyed. They were continually given instruction and prodding in righteousness from the Lord, but they were not listening. What happens when we don?t obey our parents? Typically we get punished, disciplined. Very often people think that God was just some big mean ogre in heaven. But God was looking out for them just like your parents are looking out for you. They want what is best and God does too. So often parents know before you do what the consequences are for something you are doing wrong. God knows that way better than they do. If we would just submit to His plan life would go so much better because He knows what is best. God shows his wrath and judgment in the Old Testament because of Israel?s continued sin. But we can prepare to meet God by repenting and coming to know Jesus as savior and Lord of our lives.

Micah?s name means, ?Who is like the Lord?? Micah was God?s messenger to the oppressed of Judah in the south. He has a very well known verse that is quoted often Micah 6:8 says, ?He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?? In this book, we see God?s anger and His mercy to the people. Even in His anger we see His mercy, an attribute He gives so freely to us also. Look at this verse quoted above. God has shown you what is good and what is required of you. If you do those things you will do well. What are they? Simple commands: Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.

To do justly is to act or behave faithful, upright, and conformed to God?s or man?s laws. It means we are going to follow after God?s commands and instructions, submitting our lives unto Him. He is our maker and savior and He loves us. To love mercy is to be merciful and kind to others, ready to forgive and have pity or compassion on others. We are so often ready to ask for mercy for ourselves, but aren?t so ready to share it with others. We should be ready and willing to forgive and extent mercy ? just like we would want the Lord to do for us. To walk humbly really goes hand-in-hand with the other commands. To walk humbly we have a proper estimate of our self; modest; meek; submissive; lowly; obscure; not viewing self as better than others. Since we are walking humbly before God we will do justly and love mercy, as we walk humbly before God we will take on those attributes of God. What a blessing these prophets are. We?ll continue this study throughout the month in Kids Church!

Call or write to me if you have any thoughts or questions my number at church 385-0450.

Godspeed!
Pastor Casey