What Does God Want From You?

"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?" Micah 6:8


I often see young children deliberately disobey and defy their parents. I have also seen young children actually smack their parents when they were told they could not do something or could not have something. Children will disobey, defy and smack as long as they do not experience negative consequences. It is my opinion that this country is experiencing the fallout of the spared rod. We have a nation of children being parents who had absentee parents. This next generation of children do not just have absentee parents, but non-responsive parents. My question is, "How will they ever know the love of the ultimate parent; God?"

In Micah chapter 6, God pleads with the nation of Israel as a Father desiring to call them back to obedience. God's prophet, Micah, is addressing an Israel which has been steeped in idolatry as they have taken on the worship of other nations' gods. "Please don't do that," He has been saying. "Remember, I am your Father, and I am telling you there will be consequences if you do not obey me." (I often wonder how to answer those who ask the question,"If He is such a loving God, why is there so much pain and misery in the world?")

Practicing sin will never find favor with God. In fact, if a person continues in sin the bible tells us he "will not inherit the kingdom of God." God has told us what is good and what He requires of us. Today, very much like the Israelites in the time of Micah, most people have no idea what the word of God says. Most people get their sense of morality by word of mouth or by comparing their actions to anyone they can find who they deem as being "worse" than them.

If you watch any television show for any length of time, you will quickly find someone you can compare yourself to and think, "I'm not that bad." Folks, please understand, as a Christian the only standard to which you can measure yourself is that of Jesus Christ. Really, if you can stand your life up next to the life that Jesus exemplified and still say, "I'm not that bad," you are a liar.

Three things He requires of us: Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly. Do justly by "working out your own salvation" without regard for how others are handling theirs; that is, live righteously and quit comparing yourself to others. Love mercy by forgiving others when they don't live up to your expectations. It will happen, maybe even every day. Give them the same mercy God offers to them. And walk humbly by acknowledging that whatever it is you have or hope to have only comes to you from your Father in heaven, and not by anything you've done.