Tag:

justice

What is Required?

by TerryLema

There is a familiar verse in the book of the prophet Micah.  “Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness [mercy], and to walk humbly with your God.” [6:8 HCSB]

This is not a formula for salvation. Salvation has always come through sacrifice. In the OT, forgiveness came through the sacrifices of animals, the atonement for sin rolling ahead once more until the entire sin of the world was taken to the cross of Christ Jesus. There the final solution for sin was wrought through the sacrifice of God’s Chosen One.

Micah, when he uttered those words was addressing a people in covenant with God. When we take those words to heart, it is because we too are in covenant relationship with God. Jesus called it the New Covenant in His Blood. No one can act justly, love mercy, or walk humbly with God unless they are in relationship with Him!

To “act justly” is to show true religion. God gave Ten Commandments that set His Holy Standards for our relationship to Him and to others. We cannot achieve salvation through them, but they still set the criteria for our hearts in how we are to connect to Him and our neighbors now that we have salvation through Christ Jesus our LORD.

To “love mercy” is to freely and with great grace and love be willing to show kindness to everyone.

To “walk humbly with [our] God” means to live in that everyday awareness of His presence in our lives, to exercise a spirit of humility before Him. As John the Baptizer said it, “He must increase, I must decrease.”

Lord, grand us by the power of Your Holy Spirit, to live and walk like this every day! Amen.

 

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The Just Judge

by TerryLema

So often I hear people demanding justice. They want wrongs made right. They want to see the ones who pervert the law held accountable. There is something in us that looks for someone to stand up against the evil that too often reigns in this life.

Did you know there is a Psalm about “The Just Judge?” It is Psalm 94, and it is a cry out to the “LORD, God of vengeance” to appear and repay the proud and wicked what they deserve. As I was reading it this morning in the HCSB, I came across two startling translations of verses 8 and 20.

Verse 8 demands of those who think God does not see their wickedness to “Pay attention, you stupid people! Fools, when will you be wise.”

Verse 20 speaks of those in authority who band together to condemn the righteous and the innocent. “Can a corrupt throne (government)—one that creates trouble by law—become Your ally?”

Wow! I would say that it looks like we have not learned a lot down through the centuries. Fools still deny God. Corruption is still prevalent in those who rule.

But I hate to end on that note, so I will remind you also of the promise of God found in Psalm 94:18-19. “If I say, ‘My foot is slipping,’ Your faithful love will support me, LORD. When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.”

Just a reminder, no matter what we see flourish around us (fools or corruption), our God is still on the throne, still supporting us with His faithful love, still singing over us with joy!

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The Rock

by TerryLema

In Deuteronomy 31, God reminds Moses that his time on earth is coming to an end. Because of his disobedience he would not be going into the Promised Land with the people. The LORD tells him to hand over the leadership of the nation to Joshua. Then Moses addresses the people. His address is called “The Song of Moses” and it begins in Chapter 32.

One of the verses always touches my heart.  “The Rock—His work is perfect; all His ways are entirely just. A faithful God, without prejudice, He is righteous and true.” [Deuteronomy 32:4 HCSB]

The rendering of the words in that verse in the NKJV are just slightly different.  “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.”

The one thought that makes me thankful this morning is that our God is a “faithful God, without prejudice,” or “A God of truth and without injustice.”

I am thankful today that there is no prejudice, no injustice found in our Rock! So much of our world is filled with injustice and prejudice. Not just racial prejudice, but social status, political allegiance, etc., also lead to prejudices … and then to injustices. They lead us to view people who do not hold the same views or opinions as our enemies and drive us to silence their voices.

Our God, however, is perfect. All …. ALL … His ways are justice. There are no favorites because of the good things we do. No one has preferential treatment when they come to the cross. Neither does He hold our imperfections against us but comes alongside and gives us the invitation to His salvation and provides the Holy Spirit to guide us to be conformed to our Savior and LORD.

I am so thankful He is my Rock! Amen!

 

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God is Not Silent …

by TerryLema

Micah 6:8: “Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” [HCSB]

I came across that verse last Monday afternoon. It is a well-known verse. I have seen it quoted often. I have heard messages on it and even preached messages on it myself. It made me consider a few things once again.

First, God is not – never has been – silent about what He expects of His creation. He has told us what is good, and He has been consistent in reminding us what is required of us. He did it in the Old Testament, and He repeated Himself through His Son in the New Testament.

It is clear. We are to act justly. We are to love faithfulness, or as the NKJV translates, we are to love mercy. We are to walk humbly with our God.

We are to act justly. As disciples of Christ Jesus, we are to act toward and treat all rightly, honorably, fairly, and honestly. Not always easy, but when have the commands of obedience from our God ever been easy! There are many in this life who have not been treated honorably or fairly. We can place whatever terminology on it we want, but the church must never be in the business of treating people dishonorably or unjustly.

We are to be a people who love faithfulness and mercy. Love it, act upon it, reflect it, give it. We know God always treats us faithfully and that His mercies are new to us every morning, but do we treat others the same way? Are we faithful to them? Are the mercies we have for them new every morning?

Last of all, we are to walk humbly with our God. If we strive to do the first two commands, we will find out just how difficult they are – then it is easy to walk humbly with our God!  There can be no arrogance, no pride, when we discover just how far removed we are from perfect obedience to a perfect, holy, wonderful, faithful, just God.

Amen & Amen

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