What Does the LORD Require of Us?

"But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do,  what God is looking for in men and women.  It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously— take God seriously."  -Micah 6:8 (The Message)


I read those words and I think to myself, "What's so hard about that?"  In fact, it seems so basic that I decided I had better try the King James version and see if it wasn't really more difficult.  The KJV says, "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?" Once I got passed the words "shewed" & "doth" I was pretty certain I still had a clear understanding of what Micah was trying to say.  So why, I asked myself, do we try to make our relationship with God so complicated?


What does the LORD require of us?  Treat people right, show mercy to others, and put God first.  What do we make our relationship with God all about?  Here's a partial list...

• Being in more small groups than that know-it-all Stan who teaches Sunday School.
• Taking at least one Dave Ramsey class.  It is much easier to be right with God if you know Dave first.  Or at the very least read Jon Acuff's blog.
• Pointing out the flaws in the theologies of others so that our own appears correct- especially if they have written books you have never read.
• Trying to highlight the sins of others while seeking to hide our own so that we can somehow avoid hell.
• Arguing with and alienating friends, family and neighbors on the subject of how the world began (When all we really need to know is"In the beginning GOD...").
• Spending hours trying to decide if the world will end in October 2011 or in December 2012, like the movie said (when all we really need to know is "GOD wins!).
• Trying to do enough good deeds that we somehow earn our way into heaven.

I could go on and one, but that would serve no purpose.  We know what is required.  So as you go through the day...JUST DO IT!!!  To whom do you need to show more love?  Who do you need to go to with more compassion and mercy?  And what do you need to do to put God first in your life?  And actually, it's even simpler that that.  All we have to do is remember that it is all about Jesus, and we WILL respond to people with love, grace, justice and mercy.  And that's what the LORD requires of us...

Because of Jesus,