Micah prayed asking God to once again shepherd His people. He mentioned those days when God led the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. God was directly involved in the very survival of the Israelites. Micah reflected on God's grace and mercy. He knew that God would once again forgive their sins and show mercy. Micah knew that God would be faithful to the covenant with Abraham and the ancestors of the Israelites. Are you certain of God's faithfulness to you? Have you experienced God's mercy and grace?

This is the third parable that Jesus gave in response to criticism for welcoming and eating with sinners. It is the story of two very different responses to the son's return home after wasting his inheritance. This younger son was repentant for his bad behaviour and determined to ask his father for forgiveness. His father was constantly waiting and hoping for his son to return and ran to him in love and expressed great joy at his homecoming. On the other hand, the older faithful son was jealous of this good treatment of his brother and refused to celebrate with his father and brother. The father, like our heavenly Father, desired unity in the family. How do we respond? Are we repentant when we recognize our sin? Are we forgiving when others make mistakes? Or are we judgmental like the older son? God asks us to accept everyone with God's love.