There are many ways in which we can describe what God expects from His people. The statement we most often turn to is from Jesus when He said:
"Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37 - 39
One of the powerful yet simple statements of what God requires from us is found in Micah. First the prophet suggests what OT people might think God primarily wanted. Since God through Moses instituted the sacrificial system, you would think He might especially want sacrifices.
So Micah asks in a rising crescendo: will God be pleased with burnt offerings of young calves? thousands of rams? ten thousand rivers of oil? the most costly sacrifice possible from an Israelite, my firstborn son?
Then comes the very simple description of what God wants:
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Micah 6:8
Of course if we compare this to the words of Jesus in Matthew, we realize that they are not dissimilar. Justice and mercy will flow from the lives of those who really love God and others. In this part of the world, a Christian easily becomes more attuned to the need for this in our world. Christ followers must live out and advocate for justice and mercy. And if we walk humbly with our God, that will be with dependence (instead of independence) and obedience (instead of disobedience); a clear demonstration of our love for Him.
God has always wanted the same from those who follow Him. It may be expressed differently in the OT. It is true that today we have no need of a temple, no sacrifices, no earthly high priest, for Christ has come. But God has never changed and what He has always wanted from His people, at the core, has never changed either.
"Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37 - 39
One of the powerful yet simple statements of what God requires from us is found in Micah. First the prophet suggests what OT people might think God primarily wanted. Since God through Moses instituted the sacrificial system, you would think He might especially want sacrifices.
So Micah asks in a rising crescendo: will God be pleased with burnt offerings of young calves? thousands of rams? ten thousand rivers of oil? the most costly sacrifice possible from an Israelite, my firstborn son?
Then comes the very simple description of what God wants:
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Micah 6:8
Of course if we compare this to the words of Jesus in Matthew, we realize that they are not dissimilar. Justice and mercy will flow from the lives of those who really love God and others. In this part of the world, a Christian easily becomes more attuned to the need for this in our world. Christ followers must live out and advocate for justice and mercy. And if we walk humbly with our God, that will be with dependence (instead of independence) and obedience (instead of disobedience); a clear demonstration of our love for Him.
God has always wanted the same from those who follow Him. It may be expressed differently in the OT. It is true that today we have no need of a temple, no sacrifices, no earthly high priest, for Christ has come. But God has never changed and what He has always wanted from His people, at the core, has never changed either.
No comments:
Post a Comment