From:
Date: April 14, 2021
Subject: It's April 14; Good Morning Union


Dad’s third category of “absolutes” I defined as “The Absolute Bottom Line for Living”

 

“He has shown you O man what is good, and what does the Lord require of you?”            Micah 6:8

 

We used to sing this as a first-generation praise song. Most “praise music” when I began as a chaplain was based on specific verses of scripture and I could play my guitar and lead them at Afterglo because they normally only had three cords! This praise song my dad actually liked, and he was a man of the hymnal and the King James version of the Bible. He used to say, “Why do we make Christianity so hard? Just love God and love others.” He liked this verse of scripture so much because it was so clear and so simple.

 

And now, almost 50 years later, I still love this verse based on my often-repeated spiritual mantra for applying God’s word to my life. “If it’s important to God, it’s clear in His word.” It doesn’t get much clearer than this, so this must be important to Him! At least that’s my conclusion!

 

“He has shown you what is good…”- Clarity on that which is important illustrates even more to me that this must be important. “I have shown you what is good,” says God.

“and what does the Lord require of you?” Clarity clears the way for a response. When I know what God expects it’s actually easier to comply and cooperate with His plans. Some things take longer to understand…somethings require a little extra faith… some things are crystal clear. As I have also said many times before, I don’t sweat the stuff I don’t understand in God’s word, I just focus on what I DO understand! “And what does the Lord require of me?

  1. Do justly
  2. Love mercy
  3. Walk humbly with your God”

 

Or as I apply it to my life:

  1. Do what’s right, no matter if anyone is watching or not
  2. Do what is loving, even if it’s not reciprocated
  3. And do it with an attitude—an attitude that brings no credit to myself but all credit to God.

 

God showed me how; God asks me to follow; and He will equip me to do what He asks. How my world has changed as I continue to apply the clarity of God’s (and dad’s) verse in my life.

 

Have a great day doing what is right and loving—with an attitude,

Pastor Rich

 

Quote for the day:      “Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? God didn’t put out the fire, He just put Jesus in there with them. It’s not about God ‘putting out your fires,’ it’s about Who is in there with you.”

PS        Loveology | Open small group. 6:00 p.m. | College View Church young adult room
In Loveology.