November 3rd, 2013

Micah 6:8 — He hath showed 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?

This morning — almost in a throwaway comment in the middle of a message based on the miracle at the pool of Siloam – our pastor said something along the lines that “the challenge isn’t to give of your best, but do do the impossible”. The reference was to Philippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” It reminded me of something I was contemplating in my quiet time this morning.
The Christian life is deceptively simple. Micah states God’s requirements — deal well with your fellow man, and with God. Paul says, in Acts 24:16 which was the base for yesterday’s piece, that he sought to “have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.” So there is is. Simple. The Christian life is just a matter of keeping right with God and man.
Even Jesus made it clear how easy it is to live the Christian life. When He was asked which was the great commandment, He laid it out: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37-39). Easy. No! Wait! What does that say?
“Love God with ALL thy heart, and with ALL thy soul, and with ALL thy mind”. Just how easy do you find it to be 100% committed to loving God with all of your being all of the time? One of my favorite commentators, William Barclay, puts it like this: “It means that to God we must give a total love, a love which dominates our emotions, a love which directs our thoughts, and a love which is the dynamic of our actions. All religion starts with the love which is total commitment of life to God.” Are you there yet? I have to be honest. I’m not. I want to be, but it might just be impossible. At least, without God’s help it might be impossible — which is where I came in.
“Love thy neighbor as thyself”. Can I be honest again? There are times when I don’t love myself that much. There are times when I’m not sure some of my “neighbors” are all that likable — never mind lovable! I needs God’s help to see myself, and others, as He sees them. Barclay, again: “… men and women are made in the image of God. It is for that reason that human beings are lovable. … Take away the love of God, and we can look at human nature and become angry at those who cannot be taught; we can become pessimistic about those who cannot make progress; we can become callous to those who are cold and calculating in their actions. The love of humanity is firmly grounded in the love of God.”
The Christian life might just be impossible without God’s help. Micah nails it. Do justice and love mercy — and look humbly to God for help with the assignment.