Old Testament Scripture Reading: Micah 7:18 – 20 (KJV)
Mic 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
Mic 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Mic 7:20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:16- 29 (NASB)
Col 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Col 1:17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Col 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
Col 1:19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,
Col 1:20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Col 1:21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
Col 1:22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach–
Col 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
Col 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
Col 1:25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,
Col 1:26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,
Col 1:27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Col 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
Col 1:29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) This present world in which we live is becoming increasingly complicated through the drive of the governments of the world, who are not interested in serving God through His Son, Jesus The Messiah; but rather are living in constant denial of acknowledging Who Jesus is, and what Jesus said, as being the true matter of importance, which God is permitting them to do, however, HE is not going to do so forever, for there is a set time that HE will be bringing all of them to an end as it is written!
2)The Prophet Micah reminds us that it is only in accordance with God’s promises that we who believe in HIM through HIS SON JESUS, even have a hope to stand in HIS presence knowing that we are forgiven only by HIS grace, which HE has promised through the Fathers from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to manifest JESUS (the seed of Abraham; the seed of the women {Gen 3:15} )
3) The Apostle Paul teaches us through his letter to the church at Colossae that this same promise that was made to the patriarchs has been delivered not only to their descendants, i.e. believing Israel; but also to believing Gentiles, which is known as the “mystery of Christ” which is the crux of our proclamation to all people everywhere!