WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU?
Micah 6:6-8 With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Note that this a Divine requirement!
I. TO ACT JUSTLY
In order to comply with the Divine requirements, we must be characterised by absolute justice, and complete integrity in all our doings.
Just:- Fair; Impartial.
Justly:- Equitably; Accurately; Doing right.
Latin:- Justus = Law
1. GOD IS JUST
Isaiah 45:21
Declare what is to be, present it—let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Saviour; there is none but me.
2. JESUS WAS JUST
Matthew 27:24
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
3. WE MUST BE JUST
Habakkuk 2:4
the just shall live by his faith.
Philippians 4:8 whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. [AV] (Fill your mind with – Jerusalem Bible)
CP. Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: [AV]
II. TO LOVE MERCY
An additional Divine requirement is that we love mercy, and so live in a merciful manner.
Mercy:- Forbearance towards one who is in one’s power.
A forgiving disposition.
1. WE HAVE GOD’S EXAMPLE
Micah 7:18 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry for ever but delight to show mercy.
Psalm 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; [AV]
2. WE HAVE GOD’S EXHORTATION
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Proverbs 11:17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul
III. TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD
Humble:- Modest; Unpretentious.
Latin:- Humus = the ground!
The third Divine requirement is a humble walk with God.
The first and second Divine requirement is to do with our dealings with our fellow men, this one, is to do with our dealings with God.
WE MUST
1. REALISE OUR PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY BEFORE GOD
Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.
2. REALISE THE GLORIOUS BENEFITS FROM GOD.
Isaiah 57:15 For this is what the high and lofty One says—he who lives for ever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
