The prophet Micah ends his prophecy in a way I hope we allow our faith to end. He doesn't land on an answer. He's astonished at the thought of the God he knows. "Who is a God like you...?" he asks. Of all the things he could say about the Lord, the prophet is astonished by God's mercy and compassion.
That's a bit of a surprise ending. It turns out to be a doxology we can emulate.
Micah has spent chapters calling out the corruption of God's people. Leaders have exploited those they were supposed to serve. Prophets put on religious performances while ignoring social injustices. He has given some harsh prophetic judgment. After naming these kinds of realities, it would be easy to grow cynical, easy to assume things will never change.
But Micah doesn't end that way. He lifts his eyes. Who is a God like this?
Let's call this the shock of mercy. Of course, God judges, but God also forgives. God sees sin and still gives grace. The Lord is powerful, but uses that power to restore our lives.
Mercy shocks us because, perhaps, we know what we might do if we had the power in our hands. We let anger linger. We harbor grudges. And we're quicker to defend ourselves than to forgive others. That's part of what makes Micah's affirmation so meaningful. It reminds us that God is God, and, thankfully, we are not.
Considering the shock of mercy, today, I'm reflecting on the idea that maturing in faith is learning to stand in awe of God more.
As we do, God's Spirit reshapes our hearts. God's forgiveness becomes not only something we experience, but something we learn to share. We can thank God for grace and learn to live by it as we do.
Don't let what's wrong in the world unsettle you so much that you overlook the awesomeness of God. Let your heart settle on Micah's word: Who is a God like you?
Stay blessed...john | 
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