"And this One will be our peace." (Micah 5:5, NASB)
Micah 5:2 says, "One will go forth for me...." It is exegetically correct to read verse 4, "This One will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD HIS God. And they will remain, because at that time This One will be great to the ends of the earth." Enter our text--- "And this One will be our peace." The whole of the First Covenant speaks of "this One." This was the great "stumbling block" to the Jews of the First Century, and it is the great "stumbling block" in succeeding generations.
Religion of man does not give us, "This One." Religion, like philosophy, engages in endless speculation and empty talk as to reality, form and ceremony replacing the relationship offered in the Garden. "Adam, where are you," is still the call of Father. Yet man in his rebellion does not want God calling him. Man wants to be the "one" doing the calling, and that only when he needs help. But the pursuit of Jesus Christ has not changed. While most of humanity is off looking for some "system," some teaching which will make us better versions of what we already are, "this One," is calling us to Himself------- to make us like Himself.
The message to the shepherds on that "cold winter's night" was, "This One.... is born this day in the city of David." When they arrived at the manger, they did not find a book. They found, "This One." The great news at this season is not for those who "hunger and thirst" for some how-to book on self improvement. It is for the "blessed...who hunger and thirst for righteous"---------------- "This One."
Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me in "This One." Amen.
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When 18 year old Peter Torjesen "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
