God Assembles the Exiles

Micah 4:6-7

“In that day, declares the LORD, I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. 7 I will make the lame my remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.”

Jesus makes the point in Luke 7:41-50, that those who have been forgiven much, love much; but those who have been forgiven little, love little. That really touches my heart, because I know how very much I have been forgiven, and I am radically in love with my Savior.

I can also relate to Matthew 25:31-40, where Jesus tells of a last days’ judgment that will be based on how “the least of these” were treated. The “least of these” includes prisoners, the hungry, the needy and the sick. Having once been a starving, homeless person who eventually went to prison, my heart is now very tender towards those who suffer in these ways.

Since I suffered for years with bipolar illness and suicidal depression, I identify with those who are mentioned above as having been “brought to grief”. Having been labeled a sex offender for the crime of solicitation of a minor, I sympathize with those who have been figuratively crippled by society; and certainly, also with those who are actually physically challenged.

Therefore, today’s passage makes me love the Lord all the more. One day He will raise an army of those who have been marginalized, discouraged, exiled, and physically or emotionally challenged. I see Him doing it now in the prisons.

Those who are forgotten by the world are a glorious, loved, remnant nation to the Lord!

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Think about how much you are loved by the Lord. Receive it, and share it with someone.

Dive Deeper: Study Micah 4; Luke 7:41-50; Matthew 25:31-40.