[Indian Paint Brush, 2010, JA VanDevender]
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?
It really appears simple... when we just look at it from Micah's perspective. God doesn't demand that much after all. It certainly is not as if He is outrageous in His expectations. He simply wants us to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly.... with Him.
He sends His Son into the world, to inhabit the flesh of mankind, to experience the pains and sorrows of broken humanity. He sweats in the hot sun and is pricked by the bugs and gnats. He feels the sharp taunts of His enemies... He grieves as friends desert Him... He loves ... and hurts .... and weeps... and laughs. God does all this as an act of pure good will. That's complication... that's complexity.... that's layers of obligation.
But what does He require of us in return? In contrast.... not much. He asks for our lives, yes, and completely. But in what does He ask us to give our lives? He asks us to do justly... to walk in wisdom, redeeming the time for the days are evil. He asks us to penetrate the sludge of selfish babble in which we are immersed and to find firm ground on which to place our feet. Doing justly is walking in equity with God and man... returning good for evil.... building instead of tearing down... seeking the well being of all, especially the household of God. What is the price that we pay for this? It is not costly at all... it is actually the way of profit... the way of peace... the rewards of which are immediate and eternal.
He asks us to love mercy, ... to rejoice in it. To forgive and be forgiven... to exist transparently with God and man such that our failures are not hidden and our tolerance of those in others proves our love. Is this costly to us? Not at all, for it means we forgo the heavy burden of animosity, grudges, wounded pride, resentment and all the other multitudes of prickles which make life miserable.
He asks us to walk humbly... with Him. Is there any other way to walk with Him? To stand next to the Infinite is to contrast our smallness. No man staring at space feels large. But in our smallness we walk with Him and He accepts us and upholds us and overcomes all things for us. Is this costly? What price is privilege? What can purchase a gift?
Life is simple.... it is sin that is complex. God help us to remember that.
What a fascinating thought -- "life is simple, but sin is complex." Isn't that amazing. We are so used to complicated religion that we cannot fathom the simplicity and beauty of a relationship with Jesus.
Thank you--
Hannah
Posted by: Hannah Rivard | July 01, 2011 at 05:24 PM
What a breathe of fresh air. In these modern times our lives are so complicated and things seem to be going faster and faster. it is important to remember your place at God's side and to be humble.
Posted by: Tim | June 20, 2011 at 04:37 PM
Humbleness is something I think we Christians have a hard time remembering. We'd much rather win the arguement than wash someone's feet. I love the part about walking in the sludge of selfish babble! Great visual!
We made our lives so hard instead of just submitting to God's love and plan. Thanksf or the post!
Posted by: Katie of Testify the blog | March 10, 2011 at 10:54 AM
A Prayer From Jesus
Jesus has giving this task to me. For someone has to tell you,
You ARE, going to hell
Why? You ask. You believed man instead of what Jesus has established as salvation. For those who do not want to end up in the lake of fire Pray this prayer
These are the last days, This is your last chance.
Pray the Prayer from Jesus, and KNOW!
Posted by: tom | March 06, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Come to think of it, life really is that simple. God created the perfect life plan for us. If we were to just adhere to it we would see that life really can be that simple.
Posted by: Christian Woman | October 10, 2010 at 10:09 AM