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Isaiah 50:4- “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary…”
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    • God’s Requirements!- Part 2

      Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on September 3, 2020

      Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” NKJV

      gods-requirements-2-1.mp3

      In my previous post, I left out a very important insight. Micah starts this verse by writing, “He has shown you, O man, what is good”. This is really key and should not have been overlooked. I apologize. For the thing that God is requiring of us, He has already demonstrated it to us. My last post referenced how God requires that we act justly. The thing I forgot to mention is that He requires it because He is a just God. He gave us laws, judgements, testimonies, statutes, or whatever you choose to call them; in which we are to live by. He added blessings and consequences to those. He demonstrated how He is just, and then He required it of us. That brings us to tonight!

      His second requirement is that we are “to love mercy”! This is pretty easy to receive, but often times harder to give. Yet, He, being our first example, is the God of mercy. I like the song Alvin Slaughter sang years ago, “Mercy Refused”, written by David Baroni. In the song it states:

      Justice demanded satisfaction, the law had been broken again and again. Judgement required immediate action, death wanted payment for sin. Mercy refused, and love took my place; there on the cross, where justice met grace. Mercy refused to let me die, Jesus the Lamb was crucified, though rightfully, death wanted me, Mercy refused!

      How adequate the words of this song describes the mercy of God towards mankind! In explaining the difference between grace and mercy to my children, or in a Bible class, I like to say that “grace is getting what we don’t deserve, while mercy is not getting what we do deserve”.

      Just recently, someone called me from her job. She had forgotten to pay the meter and had been at work for almost the entire shift when she realized it. As she went between worry over a ticket and praying she didn’t get one, I just came in agreement with her that she wouldn’t get it. I stayed on the phone with her as she walked back to her car. When she arrived at the car, the ticket that should have been on it, wasn’t there! Was she ever grateful and excited! God’s mercy! It could have even been His mercy through an individual. Nonetheless, that person, by law, deserved a ticket, but received mercy instead!

      As I laid in bed the other night, thinking about the first blog on God’s requirement, the Spirit whispered this word to me, “chesed”. I am not a student of the Hebrew or the Greek language, but I knew that was the word for mercy. It was as if He was approving my topic, and leading me. The word “chesed” is not only translated to mean mercy, but it also means steadfast love, kindness, faithfulness, and loyalty. God makes it plain to us that He requires that we demonstrate kindness, mercy, steadfast love, faithfulness, and loyalty one to another.

      In the book of Zechariah 7:9, it is written,

      “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion, everyone to his brother.”

      This verse is similar to Micah, in that it mentions both justice and mercy are to be shown to everyone. In the Message Bible it reads like this:

      “Well, the message hasn’t changed. God -of-the-Angel-Armies said then and says now: “‘Treat one another justly. Love your neighbors. Be compassionate with each other. Don’t take advantage of widows, orphans, visitors, and the poor. Don’t plot and scheme against one another—that’s evil.’

      Isn’t that it in a nutshell? We are not to take advantage of one another, we are not to scheme against one another, it’s not right! It’s not godly! It doesn’t get any plainer than that! We are to treat one another right! We are to treat one another with love and demonstrate compassion. In our present climate in America, it won’t always be easy, but it is the right thing to do, because God requires it of us!

      I couldn’t help but think of David and Saul. In 1 Samuel 24, David is in a cave with his men when Saul goes in to relieve himself. David’s men tell him that God had delivered his enemy, Saul, into his hands. David cuts off a corner of Saul’s robe, and then he gets a check in his spirit, that let’s him know he is not to touch Saul, nor allow his men to touch Saul. After Saul leaves the cave, David comes out of the cave and let’s Saul know that if he wanted to kill him, as some said, he had the perfect opportunity to do so. David would have been justified in killing Saul, since Saul pursued him so diligently for that same reason. But the case of justice and mercy once again clashed. While it may have been okay to kill Saul, since “all is fair in war”, so to speak; it wasn’t God’s heart. God required of David, to extend mercy. Was it easy? Maybe not! Yet, in doing so, David pleased God!

      Proverbs 3:3-4 – Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. NKJV

      Are you looking for favor and high esteem? The Bible tells us not to forsake mercy and truth. As a matter of fact, we are to wrap it around our neck and write them in our heart. In other words, they are to be important to us! Living God’s truth and walking in mercy pays greater dividends, then trying to please man. That’s what David did. He had hidden the truth of God’s word in his heart and knew mercy was required of him. Just because we have a right to be angry, or a right to get somebody back, doesn’t mean we should. Do what God requires by extending mercy, and He will give you both favor and high esteem with Him and with man!

      One last important verse on mercy that I just have to share:

      He who follows righteousness and mercy, finds life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 21:21 NKJV

      Wow! Isn’t that something to ponder on? When we are kind and show mercy as a way of life, we find life, right standing with God, and honor! We shouldn’t just be following facebook, Twitter and Instagram! We should be following righteousness and mercy! Then we will find life! I don’t know about you, but I am going to do a better job with acting justly and showing mercy. In one scripture, the Bible says that it is good for us! Aren’t you ready for some good in your life? I just told you how to get! Fall in love with demonstrating mercy to others! Stay tuned for what God has to say to us about this last requirement! Wonderful Jesus!

      Posted in God, Justice, love, Mercy | 0 Comments | Tagged Attitude, blessings, consequences, encouragemnt, esteem, favor, God, kindness, love, Mercy, Micah, obedience, righteousness, will of God
    • God’s Requirements

      Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on September 1, 2020

      Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? NKJV

      gods-requirements.mp3

      This verse keeps popping up, which leads me to believe that I am supposed to blog about it. If you’ve been following my blogs for a while, you already know this happens to me occasionally.

      God is upset with His people in this chapter of Micah. He tells them that He is bringing charges against them and building a case against them. God asks them, how has He done them wrong? He goes on to remind them of how He brought them out of Egypt and paid a great price to get them out of slavery. He sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead them. He reminds them that when Balak wanted to curse them, He wouldn’t allow it. And He reminds them of other victories won on their behalf.

      He asks them another question. How can you show God the respect due Him? What are you going to do, bring me a bunch of offerings? Would he be impressed with thousands of rams or the sacrifice of your children to cancel your sin?No! It’s already been made plain in the law of how God wants His people to live. This includes, to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before their God. Today, I want to look at the first part, to act justly.

      Let’s define the word justly. In the Webster’s Dictionary of 1828, justly is defined as “honestly, fairly, with integrity, properly, accurately, and exactly”. This isn’t the comprehensive definition, but it will work for my purposes.

      Justice can be seen in a lot of ways. I think about where we are today and wonder when did justice get so many definitions. In the word, wrong is wrong and right is right. But in today’s society, wrong can be right, and right can be wrong depending on who you are talking to. That’s man’s way, not God’s. When God says that He requires of us to act justly, He meant what He said.

      No matter how many laws are written based on our Constitution, laws that are contrary to the word of God are not just laws. At one time, the law said that my ancestors were not people, but property. That was an unjust law, and I am grateful it is not in the books any longer. But the spirit of superiority it instilled in many whites couldn’t be removed with the ink of the pen. It has to be removed with prayer and the following of God’s example of what is just.

      When I think of acting justly in today’s society I think of the LGBQT community. Do I agree with the laws written about their rights to marriage and all of that? No! But I do agree that they are human beings and they should not be attacked, mistreated, or abused because of their sexual orientation. Neither do I believe that they are second class citizens. As Christians, I believe we really need to be more Christ-like and hate the sin, and love the sinner! How can we win them over to our loving savior, when we are critical, judgmental, and even hateful when dealing with them.

      I was sitting in a bible study one night when the issue of abortion came up. I made a comment about abortion not being the will of God because a life is taken. One of the young ladies, who was already a professing Christian, jumped up and ran out of the room. I knew my comment had upset her. I went to her and talked with her and prayed with her. After our conversation, she was able to go on without the guilt of having had an abortion. I hate the sin, but I am learning to love those who commit the sin, whether it was before Christ came into their life, or after.

      There are all kinds of ways to act justly. I think of the daughters of Zelophehad in Joshua 17. They had addressed an issue with Moses about inheriting their father’s part in the promised land. Moses thought their “argument” was a good case, and granted them their desire. When Joshua and Eleazar were giving out the land, they approached them. Joshua demonstrated his ability to act justly by fulfilling the promise that Moses had made them, and that actually God had already said yes to. No one pretended that they didn’t know what the women were talking about, or that Moses didn’t realize the thing he had said yes to would be unfair because they couldn’t go to war. No! They acted justly in regards of the daughters of Zelophehad and in giving them the land.

      We are the only Christ, that some people will see. If we can ignore injustice, participate in sin, excuse sin, and live deceitfully before people, why would we think that would attract them to our Heavenly Father? Let me assure you, it doesn’t.

      God requires, expects us, to act justly. He expects us to do the right thing in every situation and at all times. When we don’t, He expects us to own up to it, repent of it, and fix it, or do better the next time.

      Can I just say it plainly, in case it was missed, I am against sin, just like God is. I have the same opinion about it that He has, whether that sin is committed by someone I know or someone I don’t know. However, in acting justly, we have to separate the sin from the sinner and learn to love the people that Jesus gave His life for.

      Lastly, God chose Abraham and had this to say about him:

      Genesis 18:19- “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”

      God said of Abraham that He knew Abraham, and He knew that Abraham would be just and teach his children to be just. The phrase “justice and judgement” is the same Hebrew word for “act justly”. God is watching us. He is delighted when we “do the right thing” even when it is unpopular, unusual, and considered to be wrong.

      Make a point to act justly. It matters in the big things and in the little things. Not only does it matter, but God requires it of us! Wonderful Jesus!

      Posted in Choices, God, Justice, Serving God | 4 Comments | Tagged abortion, Eleazar, God, integrity, Joshua, Justice, justly, LGBQT, obedience, requirements, Sin, Zelophehad daughters
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