February 8, 2016 WHAT THE LORD REQUIRES
Micah 6:8: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Matthew 11:28-20: “Come unto Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.”
It’s the nature of man to gravitate to a list of “dos and don’ts” when it comes to getting what he desires. Man finds comfort in being given ten easy steps to get whatever it is he wants. This mindset is often carried over in to Christianity as believers may find themselves searching for ways to satisfy or please God. Some believe that God has a list of things for us to do and a list of things for us not to do if we are to find favor in His sight. For example, some believe that if they are to please God, they must get up early in the morning and have a fifteen minute quite time; they must read and study the word; they must memorize scripture; they must be at the church “every time the door opens”; they must tithe; they must be a part of the Thursday night bible study-and the list goes on- and the list of things they must not do is just as long. You couple this mindset with the fact that life can become complicated and burdensome in and of itself, the believer may find himself living a life of “quite desperation.” God is well aware of the nature of man and He is aware of the fact that we live in a fallen world where chaos, brokenness, and trials are the norm. As always, God is the bearer of good news to those who have ears to hear. The fact is that first and foremost, God desires to enjoy fellowship with those who belong to Him. God is not a God up in the sky who is dishing out demands that we must keep if we are to avoid His wrath. Most of us have asked: what does God require of us? In the verses above, God answers this question in such a simple, yet profound way that those who do not know Him as a loving Father, may struggle with His answer. Is it really as simple as doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God? When we know in our inner person, that God in His great love for us has made us new creations and has given us new hearts, it becomes our nature to do the things that please Him. Yes, it’s our new nature to read His word, to fellowship with other believers, to do what is right, to be kind-hearted, and to do the things that please Him. To walk humbly with our God means that we understand His greatness and that apart from Him we are nothing. If by chance you are not sure what the Lord requires of you, and if you are finding life to be burdensome or empty, simply take God at His word. Do justice, love kindness, walk humble with God, rest in God, learn from Him, discover that He is humble in heart, and find that His yoke is easy and His burden is light! God gives us an awesome invitation-an invitation for us to know Him for who He is. No matter what you are currently experiencing, no matter if you have turned from God, His invitation still stands-He loves you that much. God is ready to give rest to your soul.
Psalms 103:13-14: “Just as a Father has compassion on His children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Micah 6:8: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Matthew 11:28-20: “Come unto Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.”
It’s the nature of man to gravitate to a list of “dos and don’ts” when it comes to getting what he desires. Man finds comfort in being given ten easy steps to get whatever it is he wants. This mindset is often carried over in to Christianity as believers may find themselves searching for ways to satisfy or please God. Some believe that God has a list of things for us to do and a list of things for us not to do if we are to find favor in His sight. For example, some believe that if they are to please God, they must get up early in the morning and have a fifteen minute quite time; they must read and study the word; they must memorize scripture; they must be at the church “every time the door opens”; they must tithe; they must be a part of the Thursday night bible study-and the list goes on- and the list of things they must not do is just as long. You couple this mindset with the fact that life can become complicated and burdensome in and of itself, the believer may find himself living a life of “quite desperation.” God is well aware of the nature of man and He is aware of the fact that we live in a fallen world where chaos, brokenness, and trials are the norm. As always, God is the bearer of good news to those who have ears to hear. The fact is that first and foremost, God desires to enjoy fellowship with those who belong to Him. God is not a God up in the sky who is dishing out demands that we must keep if we are to avoid His wrath. Most of us have asked: what does God require of us? In the verses above, God answers this question in such a simple, yet profound way that those who do not know Him as a loving Father, may struggle with His answer. Is it really as simple as doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God? When we know in our inner person, that God in His great love for us has made us new creations and has given us new hearts, it becomes our nature to do the things that please Him. Yes, it’s our new nature to read His word, to fellowship with other believers, to do what is right, to be kind-hearted, and to do the things that please Him. To walk humbly with our God means that we understand His greatness and that apart from Him we are nothing. If by chance you are not sure what the Lord requires of you, and if you are finding life to be burdensome or empty, simply take God at His word. Do justice, love kindness, walk humble with God, rest in God, learn from Him, discover that He is humble in heart, and find that His yoke is easy and His burden is light! God gives us an awesome invitation-an invitation for us to know Him for who He is. No matter what you are currently experiencing, no matter if you have turned from God, His invitation still stands-He loves you that much. God is ready to give rest to your soul.
Psalms 103:13-14: “Just as a Father has compassion on His children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.”
Blessings,
Buddy
RSS Feed