07/04/2018
all our sins
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. - Micah 7:19
He did turn once at Pentecost, and now He is to turn again, for power over sin is needed more than ever before. Has compassion ever been more necessary, has mercy ever called out more loudly? Power is needed to subdue, thus may this day be marked by enormous might against the exploits of iniquity. It has become apparent that the lack of deep pursuit of God does not arise from lack of an impetus for the chase, but by the draining of sin. May my soul lift up a mourning for my sin and that of my people, for if I confess that 'I am blind then it shall be reckoned that I see' (*). Clearly, Christ's compassion must be first and foremost demonstrated in the cubbing of the horn of wickedness, without which no work may be carried on. Let my heart even now bow down to its greatest need, and express it to the kind ear, ' Show me your compassion'.
Nothing can be done for the soul apart from its orientation. In an experiential sense, God does not move beyond our position. If the sins are to be cast into the depths of the sea, that is also a suggestion of where I should be, at the depths. Cold engagement with God, shallow response to the trumpets of holiness and meagre sacrifice for the course of Christ in the inner life all point to a refusal to toe to the line. Consider how Zacchaeus, the publican, watched from a tree as the embodiment of holiness expended his ministry. However, for that ministry to affect him, Jesus had to go into his house, and not only so but dine with him as well. The trajectory of relationship, from hearing to watching; to walking together, to indwelling even unto dining does well to exert the point. Transformation is at the depth, and only until this point is reached is sin rooted out. It essential to note that most people have made up their minds against sin but it has not been dissolved out of them; primarily because their walk is not at the point where sin is hurled out.
We are to then shed light into the destination of sin: the depths of the sea. This is a realm of the Spirit that gives us the means by which we are to attain the higher orders of righteousness. Sin is cast out by replacement, which unfolds when the last measure of self yields to Christ's Spirit. Thus, the truest meaning of the phrase, 'the depths of the sea' is the realm at which sin has no foothold, owing to the unreserved surrender to the sanctifying power of the Spirit. The earlier interactions with the Spirit may still allow for the stump of sin to keep its composure in the heart. It's all not part, making it irrational to expect the after results at the commencement stage. Until we get to the depths of the sea, we may well anticipate lusts, unforgiveness, worldliness and what have you. At the anticipated level, the flesh submits in a final blow orchestrated by Christ's compassion, and the Spirit moves to occupy the annexed territory. He is the HOLY Spirit. Guess the immediate blessing he grants is pretty obvious.
(*) - John 9:41, derived thought.
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Micah Devotionals.