What Does the Lord Require of Us? - The Crosswalk Devotional - October 23
What Does the Lord Require of Us?
By Megan J. Conner
Bible Reading:
“He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
Except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion),
And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?” - Micah 6:8 (AMP)
What is the Lord really requiring of us as followers of Christ? Both secular and faith-based cultures flood our feeds, our inboxes, and our minds with directives on how to live our best lives, make the most of our time here on earth, and achieve our dreams. All of which only causes confusion and clutters our already overstimulated brains with more to do. None of us needs more tasks to add to our to-do lists, nor is it helpful for anyone to feel overwhelmed and lost trying to simply walk out our days. Yet that is the noisy chaos in which most of us reside, making it difficult to discern what truly matters.
While this may seem like a modern dilemma, the truth is God’s people have always struggled with priorities. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were given the Ten Commandments as a framework for their faith. These same guidelines are summarized in the New Testament by Jesus in Matthew chapter 22.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matt. 22:36-39 (NIV).
It really isn’t as complicated as we thought it to be. The Lord is asking us two simple things: to love God and love others. Our primary focus is devotion to the Lord. If we are able to do that, the second will flow out of us organically as God is love. If we are full of Him, then we can’t help but share His love with those around us. But what does it really mean to show love?
Modern vernacular tosses around the word “love” flippantly and absent-mindedly.
“I love those shoes!”
“I love it when someone wears pink!”
“I love ice cream!”
“I love that song!”
The list goes on and on… The word has become so overused, it can be challenging for us to fully grasp the depth of its meaning. Today’s passage from the Amplified translation offers us an expanded definition of how followers of Christ show the love of God towards others. It outlines for us what truly is “good.”
“He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
Except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion),
And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?” Mic. 6:8 (AMP)
Treating others justly and fairly exemplifies the gospel to those around us. The summarized second greatest commandment suggests we love others as we love ourselves. All of us long to be treated fairly. If we would extend the same justice and respect to others that we desire for ourselves, how much different would our world look today?
The next call is to diligently practice kindness and compassion towards others. This exhortation is accurately described as it does take intentional effort to extend kindness and compassion towards others. Perhaps we are grumpy or discontented and are not in a space where those sentiments flow easily out of us. But more often than not, it is simply because we are so focused on what we personally have going on that we fail to see the needs of others. This is why we must practice kindness, just as we would practice any other ability.
Finally, we are asked to walk humbly before God and others. We are to set aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness. Pride can be a slippery slope for all of us. We esteem ourselves higher than we should, and if we are not careful, we can harshly judge others and push them away from the things of God rather than drawing them near. We must remember that all of us “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus," (Rom. 3:23-24, NIV). We are all equals before the Lord; none better or more valued than another.
We are flawed, distracted, and can be incredibly selfish at times (I know I can). But our Good Father sees the heart within. He knows we struggle to consistently walk in His ways. Thank goodness for the Word of God, which clearly reminds us what the Lord requires of us. All that is needed is for us to love Him and to love others.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
What have you understood was required of you as a follower of Christ? Do you feel as if you are fulfilling the mandate God has placed upon us as believers?
Find one intentional way to care for another today as you act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.
Further Reading:
1 Corinthians 13
Romans 3:9-24
Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Ralf Geithe
To read more from Megan, check out her Blog, Just One More Chapter. If you would like to connect further with Megan, you can discover more on her Website, on Facebook, or Instagram.
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
Listen to the Jesus Calling Podcast!
Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone, and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
