Micah 6:6-8
Having looked at some of the things God required of Israel beyond mere ritual in the first part of this lesson, we will now look at what God requires of us. What God requires of us (you) is:
To do justly. To act toward God according to His divine law - Mt 7:21 ‘"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” To act toward man according to His divine law - Ep 4:25-29 “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
To love mercy. To show a compassionate warm-heartedness toward man, toward widows and the fatherless - Ja 1:27 “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Even toward our enemies - Lk 6:35-36 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
To walk humbly with our God. The only way to enjoy His fellowship and continual cleansing by the blood of Jesus - Ja 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”; 1 Jn 1:7-9 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Such close communion and fellowship with God requires daily:
1) Listening to God - studying His Word to learn His will - Ja 1:21 “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”; 1 Pe 2:2 “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation”
2) Talking to God - praying for strength and forgiveness, praising Him for blessings
received - He 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”; Ph 4:6-7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
3) Walking with God - by doing His will in humble submission - Ep 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”, 8 “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”, 15 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,” -- By walking humbly with God, we are more likely to keep in proper balance the demands to do justly and love mercy
Even though we live under a different covenant, the Lord still requires us:
To do justly
To love mercy
To walk humbly with our God
-- Our “rituals” may be different (with respect to worship), but the basics are still the same!
Are you doing what the Lord requires of you? Consider this, have you done justly (by obeying the gospel of Christ)? Do you love mercy (demonstrated by accepting God's mercy offered in Christ)? Are you walking humbly with your God (by living a dedicated and obedient Christian life)?
-- If not, then all the church services you may attended, all the sermons you may have heard, all the prayers you may have offered, will benefit you nothing!
May we in all earnestness do what the Lord requires of us!
