Do Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly With God
What kind of community on mission do we want to build? What attributes do we want to develop that will signify to people who we are when they think of us?
Jesus said that they will know us by our love for one another. True love - desiring the best for each other - may involve several things at different times e.g. taking care of others or confronting harmful behaviours etc. But we are to love each other, and to work on our personal Discipleship 2 Peter 1
Growing in Faith [3] By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvellous glory and excellence. [4] And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. [5] In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, [6] and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, [7] and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. [8] The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] But those who fail to develop in this way are short-sighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. [10] So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. [11] Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
And we are to treat others and to love among others in a way that honours God. What does God have to say?
Micah 6:6-8 NLT
What can we bring to the LORD? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? [7] Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? [8] No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
He has shown you...
It's not difficult. God has shown the way. The context is God speaking to his people about all that he had done for them. The prophet goes on to ask "what does God want". There are lots of practices the people had, some even that God had instituted but the people had lost track of what they were all about. The people were trying to earn God's notice by winning browning points but God says that is not what he wants. He wants justice, Mercy and humility.
Isaiah 58:1-12 NLT
"Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don't be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins! [2] Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me. [3] 'We have fasted before you!' they say. 'Why aren't you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don't even notice it!' "I will tell you why!" I respond. "It's because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. [4] What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarrelling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. [5] You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the LORD? [6] "No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. [7] Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. [8] "Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. [9] Then when you call, the LORD will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply. "Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! [10] Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. [11] The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. [12] Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.
True fasting is what God wants, a heart that is right before him. It's sharing our belongings especially our food, treating people the right way, not oppressing them, removing burdens and the chains that bind them etc.
Micah 6:6-8 NLT
What can we bring to the LORD? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? [7] Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? [8] No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
1. Do Justly
Justice is about behaviour. Are we behaving in a way that treats others fairly, and with justice? This is about the way we live. Are we treating people in a proper and fitting way, with the right processes in place to ensure they are treated fairly. This includes ensuring that people are treated not just fairly in a legal sense but that we treat people according to what is right.
We have a whole fair trade commission and department in Australia to ensure people behave fairly in workplaces, in transactions, tenancies etc. Which shows how we naturally do not live that way. God calls us to deal fairly with people.
In my dealings with others, am I treating them rightly and fairly?
What changes might I make?
2. Love Mercy
Mercy is an attitude of the heart that leads to acting in a way that treats people in a way that is best for them. Love Mercy - in the way God loves, we are to love; in other words, mercy without strings attached. Mercy when people don't necessarily deserve it. It's not just how we treat people, but with what motivation to we approach them.
Mercy is loving kindness and goodness towards others and living faithfully. Are we treating people as they deserve or are we willing to show mercy in the same way God has shown mercy to us? God does not count our wrongs against us but chooses mercy. God forgives us and we are to have the same attitude. God forgives and does not hold our sin against us.
Psalm 103:1-5, 11-13, 17 NLT
Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. [2] Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. [3] He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. [4] He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. [5] He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's!
[11] For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. [12] He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. [13] The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
[17] But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children's children
1 Peter 4:7-9 NLT
The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. [8] Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. [9] Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
What attitudes towards others do we struggle with?
What will you do to address the attitudes? What attitude does God want?
3. Walk humbly with God
Are we living in relationship with God? It literally means to go alongside, a way of life, that lives in humility in relationship with God and to act submissively (a choice we make) and modestly. God desires relationship with us.
Romans 8:15-17 NLT
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." [16] For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. [17] And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
Yes, things like obedience are important, Jesus said that obedience to him are important and show we truly love him, but it is from a place of relationship with him, not from a place of condemnation or duty.
John 14:21, 23-24 NLT
Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them." [23] Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. [24] Anyone who doesn't love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.
Jesus was clear about obedience and Relationship. Relationship, love for God, and obedience go hand in hand. Jesus spent three years building relationship, but the was also a loving expectation of obedience that would flow from relationship. When we choose to walk humbly in relationship with God, we choose to live in obedience to him too. God is a loving father who draws us into his family and says walk with me, in relationship.
How's your relationship with god?
So
Justice - Our behaviour towards others
Mercy - the attitude of our hearts
Walk Humbly - Relationship with God.
What will define our community?
