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"WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF THEE?"

By Jay Pearson

Many times, early in my Christian walk I have asked myself a couple of questions. It’s possible you have asked yourself the same questions. Even now I continue to ask myself those questions. What can I do for my Lord today that would be pleasing to God? What could I sacrifice for him that would be a good sacrificial gift? Then I return to his written word and it becomes clear to me again.

Religious sacrificial gestures from the exterior of man are not acceptable. God is interested in the heart of man.

Micah 6:6-7
6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

God doesn’t need or want your stuff, God wants you. He wants you and I to reside in and with him. He is the creator. What of you does he want then? Let’s take a look and see.

Micah 6:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

God’s spoken Word to Israel is applicable and appropriate for the Church today.

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Does God still require us to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly before him? Again, let’s ask Him, in prayer and searching the Scriptures.

Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Yes, God still want us to do justly or do good. Yes, God did then and absolutely does now desire that we do the right thing, love mercy, and walk humbly before him.

Proverbs 21:3
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Luke 6:35
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

God’s requirements are so rewarding to us, as his children, when we do them. To love mercy is to exercise one of his requirements.

Hosea 6:6
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Zechariah 7:9
Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:

Luke 6:36
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

To walk humbly with thy God is a righteous work.

Deuteronomy 8:2
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Wherever and whenever we can imitate the God of our salvation from the heart, God is glorified and pleased. What does the Lord require of thee?

John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 15:12
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God is simply to do his commandments. The commandments from God are not grievous and they are profitable to all who do them.

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ and his Father and thank him for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Make it an everyday Thanksgiving. Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

What does the Lord require of you? Nothing that he hasn’t already given you to enjoy and to give to others. Let us do it today.

Let’s do the right thing, in our life today.

Let’s love mercy by being merciful to others before our God.

Let’s walk humbly with our God following his lead in life’s situations and circumstances.

And may the God of peace grant us to be like minded in his will. Amen

 


Presented December 17, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana