Great expectations. We all have them. We expect to be treated honestly and fairly by others. We expect agreed-upon wages from our employers. We expect job performance from employees. We expect our spouse to be faithful to us.
He has great expectations too. Problem is they seem far too detailed, unwavering, and impossible to meet. How can unholy people ever live up to the expectations of a holy God?
A prophet named Micah penned these inspired expectations:
"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)
The "big three" that God expects fit squarely within "the big two" that Jesus explained:
" 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)
Doing justice and loving kindness are expressions of our love for our neighbor as ourselves. Walking humbly with our God results from wholehearted love for Him. And doing each of these is not so much a duty to be performed as a witness to be shared. If the kingdom to come will be characterized by perfect justice, genuine love and kindness for all as well as an unhindered relationship with our Creator, then acting and living now according to those standards is a powerful demonstration of tomorrow's reality today.
God's expectations are profoundly simple yet radically life-altering. They cannot be met except through a total transformation of mind and attitude. The sacrifice and active work of Jesus is the sole means of that essential transformation and renewal of mind (Romans 12:1-2).
God's expectations cannot be met by our own resolve or in our own strength but solely through the act of surrender, "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13).
May His transforming power guide you into the lifestyle today that pleases Him and demonstrates the reality of His coming kingdom in a compelling way for others.
Steve
He has great expectations too. Problem is they seem far too detailed, unwavering, and impossible to meet. How can unholy people ever live up to the expectations of a holy God?
A prophet named Micah penned these inspired expectations:
"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)
The "big three" that God expects fit squarely within "the big two" that Jesus explained:
" 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)
Doing justice and loving kindness are expressions of our love for our neighbor as ourselves. Walking humbly with our God results from wholehearted love for Him. And doing each of these is not so much a duty to be performed as a witness to be shared. If the kingdom to come will be characterized by perfect justice, genuine love and kindness for all as well as an unhindered relationship with our Creator, then acting and living now according to those standards is a powerful demonstration of tomorrow's reality today.
God's expectations are profoundly simple yet radically life-altering. They cannot be met except through a total transformation of mind and attitude. The sacrifice and active work of Jesus is the sole means of that essential transformation and renewal of mind (Romans 12:1-2).
God's expectations cannot be met by our own resolve or in our own strength but solely through the act of surrender, "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13).
May His transforming power guide you into the lifestyle today that pleases Him and demonstrates the reality of His coming kingdom in a compelling way for others.
Steve
posted by steve @ 8:36 AM
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