Micah 6:6-8 “What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Here you go. Here is what God requires of us. These three things sum up a portion of where knowing God leads us. We all have the ability to choose that which is right and that which is wrong. The only way we can decide is based on what we feed into our minds. If we allow the enemy to influence us than it is likely that we will do that which is wrong in God’s eyes. Knowing God doesn’t guarantee that we will always make the right choice. Oh, make no mistake about it, the Lord wants us to make RIGHT choices, but our free will takes us where we ought not go at times. That’s called sin. Doing what is wrong in God’s sight.
We are to love mercy. What is mercy? “A disposition to be kind and forgiving.” So we are to strive to be God-like. God is merciful; were He not He probably would have destroyed the earth and started over. That’s how decadent and unseemly this world has become. If you think He would never do that, think again. Think about Noah & the ark. Aside for those in the ark when the rains came, every living thing was destroyed. It is only God’s incredible patience and mercy that saves this world now. You see, He delays in returning because He wants to give every man, woman, and child a chance to receive Christ and have their sins washed away once for all time. THAT is why He delays His return.
We are to be humble as we walk with God. Being humble is to be “meek or modest in behavior, attitude, and/or spirit; not arrogant or prideful.” We must understand our true place in this world. Jesus proclaims in John 15:5 “... I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” Now what does the Lord mean when He says, “apart from me you can do nothing”? “Many folks attempt to be good, honest people that do what is right. But Jesus says that the only way to live a truly GOOD life is to stay close to Him, like a branch attached to a vine. Apart from Christ our efforts are unfruitful. Are you receiving the nourishment and life offered by Christ, the vine?” [1]
Remaining in Christ means several things: 1) believing that Jesus is God’s Son (1 John 4:15); 2) to receive Christ as both Savior & Lord (John 1:12); 3) to do what God says for us to do in the scriptures (1 John 3:24); 4) to continue to believe the Good News of the gospel (1 John 2:24) & 5) to relate in love to the community of believers, which is the body of Christ (yes, even the few that may annoy you ... remember, you may annoy them as well.) (John 15:12). Exhibit Christ-like characteristics even with the brethren, not just in the world.
This concludes our look at OBEDIENCE vs SACRIFICE. Starting this coming Monday we will begin an 11 part look at THE 10 MOST DANGEROUS CULTS IN THE U.S.. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
RL Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Note: All definitions come from the American Heritage Dictionary.
[1] The Life Application Study Bible scripture notes.
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