WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF

The title probably sounds a bit crazy. “Christopher, what do you mean by “what does God require of us?” We aren’t saved by works.”

Yes, that IS true. It is very true. 

But that still doesn’t mean God doesn’t want anything of us.

Or require anything of us. 

Look at this verse:

Micah 6:8; 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?

Now there may be some confusion. What does it mean to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God?

Well, to do justly is to execute justice, and justice, my dear friends, is NOT what we as humans say is right (an example, forgive someone a couple of times before you just totally throw them away entirely) , but what God says is right (forgiving people as many as seven times seventy, basically stating you should forgive people when they say sorry and that they’ll repent). Now I’m not saying this is how we get saved. In the words of my favorite rapper KB from his book Dangerous Jesus; “It does not get us a right standing, but it does show we are standing rightly.” We don’t have to do this to be saved, it is more so we are SHOWING we are saved, and that we are “standing rightly” before our Lord and Savior.

Loving mercy is basically loving doing something good for someone (prime example, Jesus dying for us to take away our sins) when to do otherwise is actually in our full right (an example of this, if Jesus decided to cast us away forever and never help nor care about us again). Basically, it is just being that “light in the darkness” and “turning the other cheek” and being “Christ-like.” Meaning, when someone harms us, we don’t harm them back. We show the love of Christ. If someone who hurts us in some way is in need, we help them, regardless of how we feel about it (granted, don’t take this to mean you have to be around people who are constantly doing things to you, I am only saying if you can help, then help). In a dark and evil world, we must be the light and the good to everyone. Even those who don’t deserve it. Remember, we didn’t deserve Jesus extending the help we so desperately needed, so who are we to say we shouldn’t help someone because they don’t deserve it?

To walk humbly with our God is as simple as it sounds: walk with God in humility, without pride, just you and Him, you being humble. With that, you are not walking for God, you are walking with God, meaning you are not trying to do things for Him, but rather with Him, in the sense of you are acting like God is with you every step of the way to hold you upright and help you. He is not some boss who needs you to do stuff to keep everything He built afloat. He is God, and He is love, and wants you to live WITH Him more than FOR Him. I mean, our most righteous deeds are as filthy rags to Him (Isaiah 64:6). So with living with God, we are to humbly walk the path He has laid for us, speaking humbly, following humbly, and living humbly. Not for Him, but with Him. Meaning we go throughout life talking, listening, and living with God. 

Is it an Old Testament verse? Yes, it is. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t mean anything. Plus, there are verses in the New Testament that support this actually being the case. 

Let me explain. 

In Matthew chapter 25 verses 32-46, this explains HOW people will be judged. So, if we decide to read this, we will see that helping the needy, afflicted, and strangers is basically helping Jesus Himself, and if we do it we have done well, and if not we haven’t.

Literally.

This is what is required of us as Christians. Because we could live our full lives for God without living our lives with God. 

Confusing? 

Let me explain what I mean.

We can go our WHOLE lives living for God. Everything we do we do it because we think that’s what God wants and/or that is what will please Him. But while we are doing all that, we forget who God wants us to be, what His will is. By forgetting that, we don’t do what God’s will is. If everyone remembers, God’s thoughts are not ours. So how are we supposed to say we did God’s will if we were doing what WE thought He wanted.

“Well, what if God hasn’t told me what I’m supposed to do yet? What if I don’t know my purpose?”

So, let me set something straight here. God has told you what you are supposed to do, but if you are saying that, then you just haven’t realized it. How, you ask? Because, watch this, you were too focused on your purpose. THIS, my brothers and sisters, is the reason why Christians are never the way they are supposed to be. It is ALL about my purpose. What is my purpose?

EVERYONE has to know what their purpose is.

Well, I know what your purpose is, and it’s the same as every other Christians’ purpose. It is to love and follow God. The specifics can come when God reveals them, but every Christian will be judged on whether or not they have done the Father’s will. 

And that is whether or not they have executed justice (or do justly), loved and shown mercy, and walked humbly with Him.

CHRISTOPHER HANEY