That seems like such a simple question, but I suspect there are many answers we might give. If we are honest with ourselves, we quickly fall into a performance-based mentality. God will love me if…

I am reminded of the words of the prophet Micah (words that are embroidered on one of my preaching stoles):

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

This morning I read in Jeremiah 7 about the people of God who thought they were good, righteous and safe because the Lord’s temple was there. But in verse 5 we read this:

For if you truly amend your ways and your doings, if you truly act justly one with another,

6 if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own hurt,

7 then I will dwell with you in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your ancestors forever and ever.

This echoes the words of Micah. I wonder how we are really doing? God’s concern is one of justice. God values mercy. He wants us to welcome the refugees and strangers in our midst, not send them back. We have all the resources of the Creator God to enable us to do just this. May we become the welcoming presence of Christ to all who bear His Image.