The Required Routine for 2018!

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

Good: ethical, right

Require: ask for, demand

To Do: accomplish

Justly: attribute of justice, right, rectitude

Love: love

Mercy: kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable)

Walk:  associate, be familiar with

Humbly: keep close, reserve, preserve, retiring, modest, lowly

The Required Routine for 2018 is to:

1. Do justly

2. Love mercy

3. Walk humbly with your God

Each requires -

- a God perspective: what is good, ethical, right?
- an action: do, love, walk.
- a willingness: What does the Lord require?
- a personal relationship: your God

Required Routine - do justly, love mercy,

and walk humbly with your God. 

My prayer is that I can fulfill the required routine in 2018 and beyond. 

Bond-servant vs Slave

2 Peter 1:1

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:1

bond-servant:

• one who gives himself up wholly to another's will, 

• is used with the highest dignity in the NT, namely, of believers who willingly live under Christ's authority as His devoted followers

• are those whose agency God employs in executing his purposes: 

• properly, someone who belongs to another; a bond-slave, without any ownership rights of their own

Bond-servant vs Slave

Is there a difference between a bond-servant and a slave? 

I think the major difference is attitude. A bond-servant is one who WILLINGLY wants to serve another. It's a choice of actions and attitude to want to be under the authority and submission of another. 

When you think about it, we all are under the authority of someone. "Not me! I answer to NO ONE!" 

Well, you may think that, but that's not true. For each action and word spoken portrays exactly who you are serving. Your loyalty may be to a group, or individual, or a ideology. The point is that your actions, words, and attitude reflect who has influence over you. 

The difference between a bond-servant and a slave is attitude. A bond-servant wants to do exactly what is asked and required of him. The bond-servant is willing to give up his desires to do the will of another out of respect and love. 

What does God require? 

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 

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)

Bond-slave. 

gives himself up wholly to another's will, who willingly live under Christ's authority as His devoted followers. 

Willingly live under God's authority. 

Am I willing? 

Right Thing

The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you, The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually). Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)

Ruth 2:4-7

How do you feel when you see the Boss coming? How awesome to be greeted with "The Lord be with you!" And the response of the workers, was " The Lord bless you!" That is an encouraging greeting. 

Yesterday, the post was on how God designs and works His plan to accomplish His purpose. In Ruth 2:4-7, we continue to see God's attention to details. 

As Boaz came to inspect his fields, Ruth caught his eye. He noticed her among the others gleaning the leftovers. He learned that she was Ruth, the daughter-in-law of Naomi.

Notice the description given of Ruth. She did not demand that she be able to glean in his fields. She did not demand anything. Rather, she humbly asked if she could glean in his fields collecting the leftovers. And she worked tirelessly from early morning, resting just a bit. Her work ethic spoke volumes about her. She was willing to work hard long hours to provided food for her and Naomi. Ruth was doing the right thing and doing it well! 

Now, remember, Ruth could have stayed back in Moab with her family. Yet, she left and went with Naomi to a strange land. And now, she was working hard to provide food. Her attitude was noticed by those in the field and in turn, by Boaz. 

Often the things we do, go unnoticed by most. Yet, we are to be doing our best not to gain attention or fame, rather we are to be doing the right thing to the best of our ability because we are doing it unto the Lord. No matter the task. No matter how difficult. No matter..... no excuses. Just do the work for the glory of God. 

When my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), then I'll be ready and willing to do the right thing no matter how difficult it may be—knowing that I'm doing it for the glory of God!

God’s Mercy

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 28. Here is what I learned.

Repay them according to their work and according to the wickedness of their doings; repay them according to the work of their hands; render to them what they deserve. Psalm 28:4 (AMP)

Punish them for what they have done, for the evil they have committed. Punish them for all their deeds; give them what they deserve! Psalm 28:4 (GNT)

It’s so easy to see the sins of others! Especially, when they effect us in some way. We want vengeance and revenge. Oh, we might say that “God they sinned against You.... smite them!” But God is a God of mercy and grace... thankfully. God is Holy. Any and all sin is an abomination to Him. There are no “white lies”, there are no levels of sin... sin is sin—period.

If we ask God to judge others and punish them accordingly... then He has ever right to start with each of us! I’m thankful that God is a merciful. I’m thankful that God provided a way for my sins to be forgiven and erased. I’m thankful for a forgiving, long-suffering, and grace-giving God. Otherwise, I’d be headed for an eternity separated from Him. 

Before I ask God to punish anyone for their sins, I must first take a long hard look at my life and realize that I’m far from perfect and that without God’s mercy, I’d be receiving exactly what I deserve. 

We should be upset with we see people sinning against our great God, but we also need to remember that God doesn’t need us to protect His Name. He is God almighty and He will hold each of us accountable at the day of judgment. 

To create a positive day, I need to humbly come before God asking for forgiveness, and receiving God’s mercy, and then pray for those that don’t know His grace.