Marching Orders From God

This morning my Bible time led me back to one of my favorite verses in scripture.  I read it in the ESV and then just for kicks I wanted to see what the Message said.  (Now that all the hyper-fundies are gone.)  The verse is Micah 6:8.  In the ESV it reads, "He has told you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

God only wants from us three things, to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly before Him.  This is how it is put in the Message.  "It's quite simple:  Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously."

Ah, the simplicity of scripture back again.  We spend so much time debating God's will, when He spells it out for us right there.  If there is a crisis, act fairly.  If there is a problem be compassionate.  If there is strife be loyal.  Love everybody without a reason.  Don't take yourself too seriously.

Don't take yourself too seriously is a hard lesson for some.  Compassion is hard for others, including me.  It is not something I am good at.  God is still working (please forgive me for the hyper-fundie line.)  When will we as the Body get Micah 6:8 tattooed* somewhere on our person that shouts out like a sandwich board:

WE GET IT UNCHRISTIAN PEOPLE!  WE WANT TO BE JUST AND LOVING AND COMPASSIONATE!  WE WON'T TAKE OURSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY!  WE JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU THAT GOD CAN BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY!

In my opinion (that's the cool thing about a blog you can express your opinions) that is the only way that we will be able to see the Next, not new, Great Awakening of the church in America.


*sorry again for the mention of Christians tattooing themselves.  I am neither condoning or condemning the art of putting permanent ink on your person.  If you want one, great!  Ask your parents.  If they say no, don't come crying to me.  I don't have to have compassion on that one.  They win.