About Me

My photo
St Mary's, GA, United States
Weekly bulletin. Church Office Phone: (912) 882-5800

Friday, August 22, 2008

WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE?

The prophet Micah writes, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). Notice the question: “What does the Lord require of you?” The answer is given: “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” There are some important lessons we can glean from this Scripture.

First, the question, “What does the Lord require of you,” certainly implies that GOD DOES REQUIRE SOMETHING OF MEN. How often do we think of our duty to God as compared with how often we think of what He does for us? For most people, their thoughts are usually more on God supplying their needs and wants. This is not to say that we ought not to look to God for blessings. At the same time, however, we should be concerned about what we must do to please Him. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Let each one of us ask, “What does the Lord require of ME?”

The verse begins with the statement, “He has shown you, O man, what is good.” This informs us that THE GOOD WAY IS THE WAY REVEALED BY GOD. It is not up to me to decide what is good, what is pleasing to God. The Lord tells us what is required. Jeremiah wrote: “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). The mind of man cannot by know the will of God without help. It must be revealed to Him, and it is revealed in the Scriptures.

What does the Lord require? The first two things revealed here concern our dealings with our fellow man. We cannot ignore our duties to others and expect to please God. TO DO JUSTLY asserts the neces­sity of honesty and fairness in all things. The Bible says, “The righteous man walks in his integrity” (Proverbs 20:7). Again, in Proverbs we read: “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich” (Proverbs 28:6). We must always do what is right, what is just, in dealing with our fellow man.

Second, to please God we must LOVE MERCY. Not only must we be honest and fair; but also we must do what we can to assist others. Also, included in the concept of mercy is forgiveness. Jesus said that if we will not forgive others, God will not forgive us (Matthew 6:14-15). The apostle Paul declared that we should not only refuse to steal, but also work that we may have to give to people in need (Ephesians 4:28) The principle of loving mercy is demonstrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan. The “hero” of the story was not among the thieves who inflicted the harm that befell the man. Neither was he with the priest and Levite who he ignored his suffering. Instead, he was one who loved mercy and showed it to the helpless traveler by treating his wounds and providing for his care.

The third requirement concerns our relationship with God. God tells us we must WALK HUMBLY WITH HIM. This includes doing everything commanded, because humility is the beginning point of obedience. Jesus Christ, who perfectly did all that His Father commanded, first humbled Himself. Philippians 2:8 says of Christ: “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” This is the opposite of arrogant refusal to do God’s will. Have you ever heard anyone say, or said yourself, “I don’t care what the Bible says, I do not believe it.” God requires that we walk humbly with Him. That means we must submit to His will and do as He commands.

Micah answers the question, “What does the Lord require of you?” Now you must answer the question, “Am I doing it?”
--Lamar

Friday, August 15, 2008

CALMING THE STORMS

As I sat here Wednesday trying to thing of what to write for the article this week, a storm blew in. I sat here and watched the rain falling almost parallel to the ground. There was some thunder and lightning and very heavy winds and rain. It made me think of what might have been happening one night almost 2000 years ago.

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8:23-27). The disciples were in the middle of a storm and were in fear for their lives. Jesus was able to calm the storm and left them in amazement.

Storms will come in our lives. No one goes through life unscathed. Perhaps you have faced disease or death, financial setbacks, personal turmoil, or spiritual struggles. We have all been there one way or the other. The apostle Paul writes, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Even for the Christian, it is not a matter of if troubles will come, but when.

Jesus is with us in the storm. The disciples had the solution to the storm with them in the boat. It seems to me by their reaction that they were not expecting Him to do what He did. David wrote in the well-known and loved 23rd Psalm, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (verse 4). When we face the storms of life, no matter what form they may take, remember Jesus is right there with us.

Jesus will see us through the storm. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:9). In this text, Paul is speaking of his thorn in the flesh. Three times he pleaded with the Lord to remove it. The Lord’s response was “No, I will not remove it, but I will help you deal with it.” He may not always calm the storm as He did with the disciples, but He will always help us deal with the storm and come through it.

What are the storms in your life today? How long have you been trying to handle them by yourself? Give them to God; He will take care of it. 1 Peter 5:7 – “(C)asting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” He cares so much that He sent His Son to die for you (John 3:16). If He was willing to make such a sacrifice, surely He will calm the storms in your life.
--Lamar

Friday, August 1, 2008

CHRISTIAN FAMILIES

The family is the oldest and most familiar of God’s institutions. A Christian family is a wonderful blessing; both to the members of it and to the community. But many families are failures. Instead of being a refuge of peace and comfort, some homes are arenas of strife, hatred and confusion. Solomon said, “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred” (Proverbs 15:17). The high rate of divorce and juvenile delinquency are well-published evi­dences of families that failed. Still others are failing because the parents and children lack the rich spiritual experiences that a home should provide.

A Christian family is a family composed of Christians. This means more than just being church attenders. A Christ-like personality is needed. For a time, it was popular to wear items with “WWJD” (What would Jesus do) printed on them. It needs to be more than a slogan. In our families, each member of the family should be guided in every situation by that question: “What would Jesus do?” Christ should be acknow­ledged as the silent listener in every conversation and as a partner in every decision.

In a Christian family each person recognizes his own place and duty. In Ephesians 5:22-25 we read: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” Peter instructs wives to adorn themselves with a meek and quiet spirit and to be in subjection to their husbands. Then he continues, “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). The greatest thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. When he does so, his leadership will be easier to follow.

Parents are to accept their duty of training their children with wise counsel and loving discipline. “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). In Proverbs 29: 15 we are told, “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” Solomon also wrote, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). There is no greater task than the rearing of children, but it takes effort, love, and consistency. The story is told of a man who stood before the statue of Abraham Lincoln in Washington. He remarked to a lady who stood nearby, “I would like to be the artist who carved this statue.” She replied, “I would rather be the mother who made the man.”

We must also recognize that in a Christian home, attention is given to more than just the mental and physical needs. No one denies the importance of food, clothing, shelter, and even education. However, too few remember that the souls in the family also need food. Prayer should be as regular as meals. The Scriptures should have as much a place as the newspaper and television. Emphasis should be given to education in the things of God. Yet, many parents are highly concerned about public school, music lessons, and sports, but care very little whether the child learns about God and His holy Book. My friends, the greatest need facing today’s world is not better doctors, lawyers, and scientists, but better Christians. We need a new generation which has God’s truth deeply instilled in its minds by the faithful instruction and example of Godly parents.
--Lamar