August 21, 2024 • 28 mins
Ever wondered why living a Christian life isn't as easy as it seems? Discover the truth behind this misconception as we dissect the inherent challenges of pursuing righteousness and obedience to God in today’s world. In this episode, we take a deep dive into Micah 6:8, evaluating the moral and ethical obligations outlined by God: to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with Him. We argue that external acts of worship and sacrifice fall short if our hearts and attitudes aren't aligned with God's will. Learn how true goodness and hope stem from Jesus Christ and the gospel, providing security even amidst the trials of a faithful Christian journey.
We also dissect the Golden Rule, exploring its profound impact on our everyday interactions. Understand how treating others as they would want to be treated requires understanding and empathy, going beyond mere fairness. Through practical examples, we illustrate the essence of loving kindness and selflessness, inspired by Jesus Christ's ultimate example of selfless love. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of walking humbly with God, focusing on obedience and humility rather than trying to impress through actions. Reflecting on 1 Thessalonians 4:3, we encourage you to ground your identity and actions in what God has done for His glory and our good. Tune in for an insightful conversation designed to equip you to live faithfully for the glory of God.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Hi and welcome back to the Pleasing God podcast, a
podcast focused on helpingChristians to think biblically,
engage practically and livefaithfully for the glory of God.
I'm your host, jonathan Soule.
On this episode, I want to talkabout a reality we all face,
something that every one of usChristians can relate to, and
(00:28):
that's that living the Christianlife is hard.
There's no doubt about it.
There might be times where itseems maybe a little easier, but
it's hard.
Living as a Christian in ourworld today and seeking to live
faithfully, live obediently,live, you know, against our
flesh, and seeking to pursuerighteousness, it's not easy.
(00:53):
So first, I'd like to just anyidea that the Christian life is
an easy journey is false.
It is certainly hard and I'mcertain you know, as you're
listening now, you can say, yeah, I agree.
And it might've been hard foryou even today.
By the time you're listening tothis, you've maybe been
(01:13):
struggling or maybe you're inthe midst of a great trial,
whatever it might be, and we allcan admit, first and foremost,
living as a Christian, livingfaithfully, is hard.
Now, that doesn't mean it's notrewarding or it's not worth it
or anything of that nature, butwe recognize and we want to be
honest, it's not easy.
God doesn't call us to dosimply easy things.
(01:38):
And so, while we talk about howhard the Christian life is and
the challenges that it brings,I'm reminded of a passage in
scripture, a very famous passageof scripture, where, and found
in the book of Micah, micah,chapter six, mainly in verse
eight, asking what the Lordrequires of his servant.
(02:00):
Micah six eight he has told you, oh man, what is good and what
does the Lord require of you?
But to do justice and to lovekindness and to walk humbly with
your God.
Now, that's phrased as aquestion, and I want to just
kind of unpack this one verse aswe think about the challenge
(02:21):
and the difficulty of theChristian life.
Now, it would be wrong for mejust to go in and start taking
apart this verse and saying,okay, here's what we're to do as
Christians, what God requiresof us Do justice, okay.
One Then love kindness or lovemercy.
Two Walk humbly with your God.
Now, seeking to live thosethings out are very difficult
(02:43):
and challenging.
And one it's not easy and, ifwe're being honest with
ourselves, this is an area ofweakness.
One of these three are probablya strong area of weakness in
our lives, but that doesn'tnegate the fact that we are to
live this out.
This is where the Christianlife is hard.
(03:03):
The moral, ethical obligationsare not easy.
So, as we think about thechallenge of the Christian life
and to seek to live out what Godrequires of us, according to
Micah 6, 8, how do we do this?
How do we do this?
Well, well, let me just explaina little bit of the context of
why this is being written andhow this passage comes to us.
(03:28):
There's questions coming fromMicah.
Basically, what should I do forthe Lord's pleasure?
What should I do that would bepleasing to God?
He says shall I come before theLord and bow myself down before
God on high?
Do I lay prostrate before God?
Is it my worship that God wants?
Maybe he says should I comebefore him with burnt offerings,
(03:51):
with calves of your own?
Is it my sacrifice that theLord wants from me?
Would the Lord be pleased withthousands of rams and 10,000s of
rivers of oil?
Is it the abundance of givingto the Lord that pleases God, he
says.
Ultimately, he says shall Igive my firstborn for my
transgression?
Well, that's certainly pointingto something about a firstborn
(04:13):
dying For my transgression.
The fruit of my body for thesin of my soul?
Do I make the sacrifice, thesacrifice of my son, for my sins
?
What is it that the Lordrequires that would be pleasing
to the Lord?
So he's asking these questionsbecause he's saying none of
these things are enough, none ofthese things are meaningful
(04:35):
enough.
Or in another way we could sayit we could come before God and
give worship, we can givesacrifice, we can give out of
our abundance, we could give allthat we have, and that would
still not be pleasing to God.
If our heart is not in theright place, if our attitudes
are not where they should be,all of those other things are
(04:57):
external things.
We don't earn God's favor, wedon't earn God's pleasure.
And so he's asking thesequestions.
And then it's the kind ofrhetorical question back, and so
let's take this apart.
In verse eight he has told youoh man, what is good.
This is important when we thinkabout the difficulty of the
(05:19):
Christian life and thechallenges that we face.
I think oftentimes we get miredin the difficulty, we get kind
of sidetracked by the trials andthe challenges and we forget or
we try to be a moralist rightand we try to just do justice,
love, kindness and walk humbly.
And we forget this first part.
He has told you, oh man, whatis good.
(05:43):
So let's ask the question whatis good?
What is this good that God hasrevealed or told to Micah and,
ultimately, to us?
The answer is found in JesusChrist, the answer is found in
the gospel, and we have to startthere.
(06:03):
Especially when we're thinkingabout living lives of obedience,
the challenges of the Christianlife, we must first and
foremost remember that God hastold us what is good.
He has revealed himself and hehas revealed his will, and
ultimately, he's revealedhimself and his will in his son.
And Jesus is goodness parexcellence.
(06:26):
The goodness of the gospel isgood revealed in the person and
work of Jesus Christ, is ourhope, is our security, is our
standard of goodness.
And so, before you get in, thisis a challenge that I think we
all need to be mindful of and tocatch ourselves in our own
(06:47):
lives that the implications orthe applications of the gospel
must flow from the gospel in ourlives.
And so what do I mean by that?
It is gospel first.
So often I think, if we wouldjust look at do justice, love,
(07:09):
kindness, walk humbly with yourGod, we can try to do that
without gospel, and that is law,that is legalism, that is let
me do this in the strength of myown.
Might Now remember how Istarted this podcast.
The Christian Life is Hard, itis impossible when we don't get
(07:29):
gospel right and when we don'tget gospel priority.
We don't get gospel right andwe don't get gospel priority.
The gospel is not just my sinsare forgiven.
The gospel is the power of Godunto salvation to everyone who
believes.
It is what is good in andthrough Jesus Christ, and so,
recognizing that the source ofour power, the source of which
(07:49):
we can walk in this way that Godcalls us to do, is through the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
My sins are, I've been set freefrom my sins, I have been.
You know, I'm no longer thenatural man, as Paul would talk
about, but the spiritual man, orin John, chapter 3, as the
(08:10):
spirit blows as he wishes, thespirit has come and renewed and
regenerated, caused me to beborn again.
And so in that work ofregeneration or new birth,
that's kind of the Ezekiel 36passage, talking about taking
the heart of stone and replacingit with the heart of flesh so
(08:32):
that God's people will walk inhis ways and his statutes.
So we must first, through thegospel, be enabled to live out
the implications or the ethicaldemands that flow from the
gospel.
But we must recognize theseethical demands or these moral
behaviors flow downstream fromthe gospel.
(08:53):
We don't do good to get gospel,we do good because of the
gospel.
And in doing so we alsorecognize we have been enabled
to do so.
The heart that was dead hasbeen made alive.
Paul says you, who were oncedead in your, has been made
(09:16):
alive.
Paul says you, who were oncedead in your trespasses and sins
, have been made alive, for bygrace you have been saved
through faith.
So we recognize, first andforemost, when we start talking
about the challenges of livingout the Christian life and
walking in faithful obedience,it begins with gospel.
So, believer, listener, rightnow, preach the gospel to
yourself.
(09:36):
Do so early and often in yourChristian life.
Now, that's not a license to dowhatever you want, no, but
that's what's going to.
You know you speak youridentity to yourself.
I am in Christ, I am a newcreature.
Even when you're having yourbad days, I am in Christ.
(09:56):
And I am a new creature.
Even when you are feelingreally low about yourself, you
are in Christ, you are a newcreature.
When you are drowning in yoursins and you feel like there is
no hope for you, you are inChrist.
You are a new creature for you.
You are in Christ, you are anew creature, and in
understanding that, that is whatyou know, helps us, enables us
(10:22):
to walk in this newness of lifethat has been given to us.
So, sins forgiven, I belong.
I'm among the ransomed, theredeemed.
My name is written in the bookof life and it's written in
blood.
There is no eraser for that.
It has been secured and sealedthrough the person and work of
(10:45):
Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit has been givento me as almost a deposit, as a
security of our inheritance tocome.
I am counted among the redeemed, I am among the beloved of God.
That never changes, no matteryour conduct.
(11:07):
And so he has told you oh man,what is good?
The gospel is good news to allwho believe.
The forgiveness of sins, apermanent place with Jesus
Christ in heaven for alleternity.
That is what's good, and so, asa result of gospel, priority in
(11:27):
our lives.
How, then, shall we live?
Well, what does the Lordrequire of you but to do justice
and to love kindness and towalk humbly with your God.
So let's look at these threethings that Micah says for us
and just kind of break them downand think about them.
(11:50):
We're looking at thembiblically.
Them down and think about them.
You know, we're looking at thembiblically.
Let's, you know, engage withthem practically and then, so
that we can walk faithfully asdisciples and followers of Jesus
Christ, seeking to please God,what does it mean to do justice?
Well, this has been maybe ahijacked term in recent times.
(12:13):
We get a lot of cries of socialjustice, statements about
oppression and oppressors, andwhat I tend to see happening,
especially in our cultural worldtoday, in our political, social
climates, is that there arecertainly problems climates is
(12:38):
that there are certainlyproblems.
There are certain, there'scertainly injustice in our world
, but what I see happening andit happens among a lot of
Christians too is that theseproblems are real, but then
there becomes over-correctionsto problems and all they do is
kind of pendulum swing or createanother problem and there's a
(13:02):
divided spectrum of people whenit comes to issues of justice.
What's the Christianresponsibility when it comes to
justice in our community, in ourworld?
And you could go as far as youknow a woke left position or
even just, you know, denying thefact that there is injustice
(13:22):
and just saying you know this isa made up term.
I think both are just kind ofwrong and oftentimes both sides
are dismissing one anotherbecause they're not actually
listening to each other.
They're hearing what they thinkthe other people are saying,
and maybe listening would helpus all.
(13:42):
So, when you think about doingjustice, what does that mean?
Well, I mean, in a sense it'stalking about treating people
fairly.
In a sense, it's talking abouttreating people fairly.
When you think about duejustice and he's not saying due
justice to God, but he's talkingabout the horizontal
relationships Because of thevertical, what is good in the
(14:04):
gospel are horizontalrelationships this means, again,
treating people with fairness,with equity.
Now, not everybody is equal, no, that's.
I mean people are different,but we are to treat people with
equity and we are to show mercytowards our fellow man, we are
(14:32):
to act justly, and I think thisis just simply treating others
fairly.
We think about the golden ruledo to others as you would have
them do to you.
It's not a bad starting ground,but I think of that as just a
starting ground.
(14:52):
Not a bad starting ground, butI think of that as just a
starting ground.
I would argue that the goldenrule is the minimum standard of
conduct, and Jesus is saying letthis be at least what you do Do
to others as you would havethem do to you.
Treat that person fairlybecause you want to be treated
fairly.
Don't discriminate, don't treatsomebody different based off of
(15:17):
their appearance, theirintellect or anything like that,
but be fair in your dealings.
Now, that does not meaneverybody gets a trophy, or
everybody gets the job, oreverybody gets that position.
No, that's an injustice.
But you are to show fairness inyour dealings with people, even
(15:40):
the people that don't like youand that you might not like
either.
Do justice, balanced treatment.
But as the golden rule is theminimum standard of conduct, I
would say, to take it onefurther do to others.
(16:03):
Do to others as they would wantdone to themselves.
And so what that means is don'tjust do for someone.
Say you're, we think about lovelanguages.
Say you're a person who lovesacts of service or maybe gifts
(16:24):
gifts is a better one, because Ican't relate and you're
somebody who loves to receivegifts.
Well, that's the way you feelloved.
You tend to then show your loveto someone else, by the way
that you receive love.
So if gifts are your thing, youmight do to others as you would
(16:48):
have them do to you.
And you're like man, I lovegifts.
So I'm going to give thatperson a gift to tell them how
much I love them.
But that person may be more likeme and would prefer quality
time.
And they said, well, thanks forthe gift card or thanks for
thinking about me, um, but Iwould really just like to hang
(17:13):
out with you.
And I think, as for me, like,instead of bringing someone a
gift and say, hey, you know, doyou want to spend some time
together?
You want to go hiking or youwant to go do something and just
hang out, and that person'slike, well, this is fun, but you
know where's my gift?
And while they can recognizeand enjoy the time together,
(17:36):
they're talking differentlanguages.
And so when we say, do to othersas you would, as they would
want done to themselves, that'swhen you learn and recognize
someone else and you say, hey,I'm gonna spend some time with
you because I know that'smeaningful to you.
That might not be my thing, butthat's even a different level
of sacrifice, that's a differentlevel of kindness and fairness.
(17:59):
I think it's a bit differentfrom justice, but it's thinking
carefully and knowing thatperson and knowing that person.
And so, again, thinking aboutthis first kind of command here
to do justice, treat peoplefairly, treat people the way
(18:22):
that they deserve, want to betreated, and if you fulfill that
, your relationships will bemeaningful, they will be good,
they will be long lasting andyou will be known as a person of
equity, fairness, somebodythat's seeking to do justice.
(18:48):
Okay, to love kindness.
Well, what does this mean?
Another way I think it'stranslated is love mercy, but
somebody that finds true joy.
Or another way, steadfast love,but that finds selfless joy in
(19:08):
doing good to others, and thisis truly a statement of
selflessness.
When we think about lovingkindness, it's that we are good
to others, not because we'regoing to get something out of it
, but we are good and loving andkind to others because we love
to be kind to others.
(19:29):
Now let's circle this back tothe gospel, because, remember,
the gospel is what motivates us.
The gospel is the startingground here and we have to look
at God.
We have to look at the examplein his son.
Jesus loved kindness, jesusloved mercy.
In Hebrews we're told that itwas for the joy that was set
(19:54):
before him that he endured thecross.
He looked beyond what was hard,to what was going to be the
eternal reward, and that withgreat joy he endured the shame
of the cross.
He loved kindness, he lovedmercy, and he spilled that and
poured that out and demonstratedthat on the cross.
And so when we think aboutloving kindness, we can show
(20:18):
this in so many ways.
Here's an example you go out toeat and your order is messed up.
Your food comes out cold.
They just totally screwed thewhole thing up.
You got an opportunity in thatmoment to love kindness, to show
mercy.
(20:38):
How do you treat your server?
How do you treat your waiter orwaitress when things aren't
well?
Well, think about this verse.
Think about that you're arepresentative of Jesus Christ.
When you're out there or whensomeone says something to you,
(20:58):
that is just completely wrong.
They mischaracterize you, maybethey malign you and you have to
engage that person.
What are you going to do?
Are you going to do justice andlove kindness?
Are you going to show fairnessto that person?
That's not easy.
Remember how we started.
(21:20):
The Christian life is hard,because living a selfless life
is a challenge.
Maybe you are raising childrenand they're getting to the point
where they're starting to getunder your skin over something.
Or maybe the culmination ofthings, and you're ready to just
lose it In that moment.
(21:44):
Think on Micah 6, 8.
Love kindness, six eight.
Love kindness, love mercy.
Preach the gospel to yourself.
Show steadfast love, have anabiding love for others.
This is cultivated throughpractice.
(22:05):
It doesn't just necessarily, Imean the fruit is cultivated, it
doesn't necessarily just poofall the way happen.
Practice this discipline,practice this moral behavior.
Remind yourself of Christ andwhat he has done, and remember
that it's Christ in you, thehope of glory, that can carry
these things out.
So do justice.
(22:25):
Love kindness, love mercy thatmeans be merciful.
Think about the BeatitudesBlessed are the merciful, for
they shall receive mercy.
Show mercy, receive mercy.
And the final one, he says, isto walk humbly, walk humbly.
(22:48):
I said.
You know, for some of us wemight struggle with one of these
big time.
I think this is one that wouldbe challenging for me.
Walk humbly.
I need to remind myself often,daily.
I need to walk in humility.
And where do I go when I thinkabout humility?
(23:08):
Philippians, chapter two.
Again, it's Jesus.
I go back to Jesus.
It's not my performance, it'snot me do better, it's Jesus.
Paul says have this mind amongyourselves, which is yours also
in Christ Jesus.
And then he goes on toexemplify and describe in the
Christ hymn, the humility ofJesus.
In humility, count others moresignificant than yourselves.
(23:32):
Do nothing out of selfishambition or conceit.
And Jesus, look what he did,look who he is.
And it's humility to exaltation.
And so we are to walk humbly.
We are to walk humbly in thisworld.
(23:54):
We are to be people of meekness.
We're not to be people that say, oh, look at me, look at my
platform, look at my following.
You know, it's the proud peoplethat when they're following or
their crew or whatever it is,starts to dwindle, they get
upset.
It's the proud people thatalways have to stand out in
(24:16):
front.
It's the proud people that whenthey're denied opportunity or
it doesn't happen for them,they're upset because it's not
them doing the thing.
The humble people said hey,we're on team Jesus.
Humble people say it's notabout me and mine, it's about
(24:37):
him and his.
And ultimately, whenever thesethings are done, it is for the
glory of Jesus Christ.
And he concludes this line whenhe says to walk humbly.
He says with your God.
It's a recognition of who Godis and, in light of who God is,
(24:57):
who we are.
God is so big.
God is the great creator.
He is and he knows each andevery one of us.
That's an amazing truth.
But when we think about thevastness of God, that should
humble us.
We are but dust.
(25:17):
Peter says what is your lifebut a vapor?
Here one day and gone tomorrow.
We're just a little grain ofsand on this beach of eternity,
and God is the one who hascreated all of it.
(25:41):
Remember this, christian you'venever impressed God with
anything that you've done.
I've never impressed God.
It doesn't matter if I writebooks or if I preach thousands
of sermons or record a bunch ofpodcasts, or whatever it might
be.
God is bigger than this.
We don't.
Oh God, look what I did today.
He knows the end from thebeginning.
He's appointed our lives.
We're not impressing him.
(26:02):
Let's walk humbly with him,seeking to please him, because
God is pleased in us, especiallywhen we are seeking to live
lives that are obedient to him.
But we ultimately need toremember that God is pleased in
us because he's pleased in hisson when he looked down from
heaven and said this is mybeloved son, in whom I am well
pleased.
He did it at Jesus' baptism.
(26:23):
He did it on the Mount ofTransfiguration.
He says listen to him, god ispleased in you because you have
the righteousness of JesusChrist credited to you by faith,
so walk humbly.
It's not that we're something,but we are recognized that who
we are is because of what Godhas done to us, through us, for
(26:48):
his glory and our good.
So he has told you, oh man,what is good and what does the
Lord require of you?
But to do justice, to lovekindness and to walk humbly with
your God.
Think about ways in which youcan practically live out this
truth this week.
(27:08):
Remember gospel first Treatothers with fairness, because
it's not based off of them thatyou're being fair.
It's because God has called youto do that Love, mercy, love to
be merciful, love that you havereceived mercy and walk in your
(27:30):
days with humility with yourGod, knowing that what God says
about us is true, what God saysabout himself is true.
We submit, we accept that andwe walk in manner pleasing to
him, for his glory and our good.
I want to thank you forlistening to the Pleasing God
Podcast.
(27:50):
If you have any questions Iwould love to hear from you.
You can reach out at questionsat pleasinggodpodcastorg, and
remember 1 Thessalonians 4.3,.
This is the will of God, yoursanctification.
Hi and welcome back to the Pleasing God podcast, a
podcast focused on helpingChristians to think biblically,
engage practically and livefaithfully for the glory of God.
I'm your host, jonathan Soule.
On this episode, I want to talkabout a reality we all face,
something that every one of usChristians can relate to, and
(00:28):
that's that living the Christianlife is hard.
There's no doubt about it.
There might be times where itseems maybe a little easier, but
it's hard.
Living as a Christian in ourworld today and seeking to live
faithfully, live obediently,live, you know, against our
flesh, and seeking to pursuerighteousness, it's not easy.
(00:53):
So first, I'd like to just anyidea that the Christian life is
an easy journey is false.
It is certainly hard and I'mcertain you know, as you're
listening now, you can say, yeah, I agree.
And it might've been hard foryou even today.
By the time you're listening tothis, you've maybe been
(01:13):
struggling or maybe you're inthe midst of a great trial,
whatever it might be, and we allcan admit, first and foremost,
living as a Christian, livingfaithfully, is hard.
Now, that doesn't mean it's notrewarding or it's not worth it
or anything of that nature, butwe recognize and we want to be
honest, it's not easy.
God doesn't call us to dosimply easy things.
(01:38):
And so, while we talk about howhard the Christian life is and
the challenges that it brings,I'm reminded of a passage in
scripture, a very famous passageof scripture, where, and found
in the book of Micah, micah,chapter six, mainly in verse
eight, asking what the Lordrequires of his servant.
(02:00):
Micah six eight he has told you, oh man, what is good and what
does the Lord require of you?
But to do justice and to lovekindness and to walk humbly with
your God.
Now, that's phrased as aquestion, and I want to just
kind of unpack this one verse aswe think about the challenge
(02:21):
and the difficulty of theChristian life.
Now, it would be wrong for mejust to go in and start taking
apart this verse and saying,okay, here's what we're to do as
Christians, what God requiresof us Do justice, okay.
One Then love kindness or lovemercy.
Two Walk humbly with your God.
Now, seeking to live thosethings out are very difficult
(02:43):
and challenging.
And one it's not easy and, ifwe're being honest with
ourselves, this is an area ofweakness.
One of these three are probablya strong area of weakness in
our lives, but that doesn'tnegate the fact that we are to
live this out.
This is where the Christianlife is hard.
(03:03):
The moral, ethical obligationsare not easy.
So, as we think about thechallenge of the Christian life
and to seek to live out what Godrequires of us, according to
Micah 6, 8, how do we do this?
How do we do this?
Well, well, let me just explaina little bit of the context of
why this is being written andhow this passage comes to us.
(03:28):
There's questions coming fromMicah.
Basically, what should I do forthe Lord's pleasure?
What should I do that would bepleasing to God?
He says shall I come before theLord and bow myself down before
God on high?
Do I lay prostrate before God?
Is it my worship that God wants?
Maybe he says should I comebefore him with burnt offerings,
(03:51):
with calves of your own?
Is it my sacrifice that theLord wants from me?
Would the Lord be pleased withthousands of rams and 10,000s of
rivers of oil?
Is it the abundance of givingto the Lord that pleases God, he
says.
Ultimately, he says shall Igive my firstborn for my
transgression?
Well, that's certainly pointingto something about a firstborn
(04:13):
dying For my transgression.
The fruit of my body for thesin of my soul?
Do I make the sacrifice, thesacrifice of my son, for my sins
?
What is it that the Lordrequires that would be pleasing
to the Lord?
So he's asking these questionsbecause he's saying none of
these things are enough, none ofthese things are meaningful
(04:35):
enough.
Or in another way we could sayit we could come before God and
give worship, we can givesacrifice, we can give out of
our abundance, we could give allthat we have, and that would
still not be pleasing to God.
If our heart is not in theright place, if our attitudes
are not where they should be,all of those other things are
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external things.
We don't earn God's favor, wedon't earn God's pleasure.
And so he's asking thesequestions.
And then it's the kind ofrhetorical question back, and so
let's take this apart.
In verse eight he has told youoh man, what is good.
This is important when we thinkabout the difficulty of the
(05:19):
Christian life and thechallenges that we face.
I think oftentimes we get miredin the difficulty, we get kind
of sidetracked by the trials andthe challenges and we forget or
we try to be a moralist rightand we try to just do justice,
love, kindness and walk humbly.
And we forget this first part.
He has told you, oh man, whatis good.
(05:43):
So let's ask the question whatis good?
What is this good that God hasrevealed or told to Micah and,
ultimately, to us?
The answer is found in JesusChrist, the answer is found in
the gospel, and we have to startthere.
(06:03):
Especially when we're thinkingabout living lives of obedience,
the challenges of the Christianlife, we must first and
foremost remember that God hastold us what is good.
He has revealed himself and hehas revealed his will, and
ultimately, he's revealedhimself and his will in his son.
And Jesus is goodness parexcellence.
(06:26):
The goodness of the gospel isgood revealed in the person and
work of Jesus Christ, is ourhope, is our security, is our
standard of goodness.
And so, before you get in, thisis a challenge that I think we
all need to be mindful of and tocatch ourselves in our own
(06:47):
lives that the implications orthe applications of the gospel
must flow from the gospel in ourlives.
And so what do I mean by that?
It is gospel first.
So often I think, if we wouldjust look at do justice, love,
(07:09):
kindness, walk humbly with yourGod, we can try to do that
without gospel, and that is law,that is legalism, that is let
me do this in the strength of myown.
Might Now remember how Istarted this podcast.
The Christian Life is Hard, itis impossible when we don't get
(07:29):
gospel right and when we don'tget gospel priority.
We don't get gospel right andwe don't get gospel priority.
The gospel is not just my sinsare forgiven.
The gospel is the power of Godunto salvation to everyone who
believes.
It is what is good in andthrough Jesus Christ, and so,
recognizing that the source ofour power, the source of which
(07:49):
we can walk in this way that Godcalls us to do, is through the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
My sins are, I've been set freefrom my sins, I have been.
You know, I'm no longer thenatural man, as Paul would talk
about, but the spiritual man, orin John, chapter 3, as the
(08:10):
spirit blows as he wishes, thespirit has come and renewed and
regenerated, caused me to beborn again.
And so in that work ofregeneration or new birth,
that's kind of the Ezekiel 36passage, talking about taking
the heart of stone and replacingit with the heart of flesh so
(08:32):
that God's people will walk inhis ways and his statutes.
So we must first, through thegospel, be enabled to live out
the implications or the ethicaldemands that flow from the
gospel.
But we must recognize theseethical demands or these moral
behaviors flow downstream fromthe gospel.
(08:53):
We don't do good to get gospel,we do good because of the
gospel.
And in doing so we alsorecognize we have been enabled
to do so.
The heart that was dead hasbeen made alive.
Paul says you, who were oncedead in your, has been made
(09:16):
alive.
Paul says you, who were oncedead in your trespasses and sins
, have been made alive, for bygrace you have been saved
through faith.
So we recognize, first andforemost, when we start talking
about the challenges of livingout the Christian life and
walking in faithful obedience,it begins with gospel.
So, believer, listener, rightnow, preach the gospel to
yourself.
(09:36):
Do so early and often in yourChristian life.
Now, that's not a license to dowhatever you want, no, but
that's what's going to.
You know you speak youridentity to yourself.
I am in Christ, I am a newcreature.
Even when you're having yourbad days, I am in Christ.
(09:56):
And I am a new creature.
Even when you are feelingreally low about yourself, you
are in Christ, you are a newcreature.
When you are drowning in yoursins and you feel like there is
no hope for you, you are inChrist.
You are a new creature for you.
You are in Christ, you are anew creature, and in
understanding that, that is whatyou know, helps us, enables us
(10:22):
to walk in this newness of lifethat has been given to us.
So, sins forgiven, I belong.
I'm among the ransomed, theredeemed.
My name is written in the bookof life and it's written in
blood.
There is no eraser for that.
It has been secured and sealedthrough the person and work of
(10:45):
Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit has been givento me as almost a deposit, as a
security of our inheritance tocome.
I am counted among the redeemed, I am among the beloved of God.
That never changes, no matteryour conduct.
(11:07):
And so he has told you oh man,what is good?
The gospel is good news to allwho believe.
The forgiveness of sins, apermanent place with Jesus
Christ in heaven for alleternity.
That is what's good, and so, asa result of gospel, priority in
(11:27):
our lives.
How, then, shall we live?
Well, what does the Lordrequire of you but to do justice
and to love kindness and towalk humbly with your God.
So let's look at these threethings that Micah says for us
and just kind of break them downand think about them.
(11:50):
We're looking at thembiblically.
Them down and think about them.
You know, we're looking at thembiblically.
Let's, you know, engage withthem practically and then, so
that we can walk faithfully asdisciples and followers of Jesus
Christ, seeking to please God,what does it mean to do justice?
Well, this has been maybe ahijacked term in recent times.
(12:13):
We get a lot of cries of socialjustice, statements about
oppression and oppressors, andwhat I tend to see happening,
especially in our cultural worldtoday, in our political, social
climates, is that there arecertainly problems climates is
(12:38):
that there are certainlyproblems.
There are certain, there'scertainly injustice in our world
, but what I see happening andit happens among a lot of
Christians too is that theseproblems are real, but then
there becomes over-correctionsto problems and all they do is
kind of pendulum swing or createanother problem and there's a
(13:02):
divided spectrum of people whenit comes to issues of justice.
What's the Christianresponsibility when it comes to
justice in our community, in ourworld?
And you could go as far as youknow a woke left position or
even just, you know, denying thefact that there is injustice
(13:22):
and just saying you know this isa made up term.
I think both are just kind ofwrong and oftentimes both sides
are dismissing one anotherbecause they're not actually
listening to each other.
They're hearing what they thinkthe other people are saying,
and maybe listening would helpus all.
(13:42):
So, when you think about doingjustice, what does that mean?
Well, I mean, in a sense it'stalking about treating people
fairly.
In a sense, it's talking abouttreating people fairly.
When you think about duejustice and he's not saying due
justice to God, but he's talkingabout the horizontal
relationships Because of thevertical, what is good in the
(14:04):
gospel are horizontalrelationships this means, again,
treating people with fairness,with equity.
Now, not everybody is equal, no, that's.
I mean people are different,but we are to treat people with
equity and we are to show mercytowards our fellow man, we are
(14:32):
to act justly, and I think thisis just simply treating others
fairly.
We think about the golden ruledo to others as you would have
them do to you.
It's not a bad starting ground,but I think of that as just a
starting ground.
(14:52):
Not a bad starting ground, butI think of that as just a
starting ground.
I would argue that the goldenrule is the minimum standard of
conduct, and Jesus is saying letthis be at least what you do Do
to others as you would havethem do to you.
Treat that person fairlybecause you want to be treated
fairly.
Don't discriminate, don't treatsomebody different based off of
(15:17):
their appearance, theirintellect or anything like that,
but be fair in your dealings.
Now, that does not meaneverybody gets a trophy, or
everybody gets the job, oreverybody gets that position.
No, that's an injustice.
But you are to show fairness inyour dealings with people, even
(15:40):
the people that don't like youand that you might not like
either.
Do justice, balanced treatment.
But as the golden rule is theminimum standard of conduct, I
would say, to take it onefurther do to others.
(16:03):
Do to others as they would wantdone to themselves.
And so what that means is don'tjust do for someone.
Say you're, we think about lovelanguages.
Say you're a person who lovesacts of service or maybe gifts
(16:24):
gifts is a better one, because Ican't relate and you're
somebody who loves to receivegifts.
Well, that's the way you feelloved.
You tend to then show your loveto someone else, by the way
that you receive love.
So if gifts are your thing, youmight do to others as you would
(16:48):
have them do to you.
And you're like man, I lovegifts.
So I'm going to give thatperson a gift to tell them how
much I love them.
But that person may be more likeme and would prefer quality
time.
And they said, well, thanks forthe gift card or thanks for
thinking about me, um, but Iwould really just like to hang
(17:13):
out with you.
And I think, as for me, like,instead of bringing someone a
gift and say, hey, you know, doyou want to spend some time
together?
You want to go hiking or youwant to go do something and just
hang out, and that person'slike, well, this is fun, but you
know where's my gift?
And while they can recognizeand enjoy the time together,
(17:36):
they're talking differentlanguages.
And so when we say, do to othersas you would, as they would
want done to themselves, that'swhen you learn and recognize
someone else and you say, hey,I'm gonna spend some time with
you because I know that'smeaningful to you.
That might not be my thing, butthat's even a different level
of sacrifice, that's a differentlevel of kindness and fairness.
(17:59):
I think it's a bit differentfrom justice, but it's thinking
carefully and knowing thatperson and knowing that person.
And so, again, thinking aboutthis first kind of command here
to do justice, treat peoplefairly, treat people the way
(18:22):
that they deserve, want to betreated, and if you fulfill that
, your relationships will bemeaningful, they will be good,
they will be long lasting andyou will be known as a person of
equity, fairness, somebodythat's seeking to do justice.
(18:48):
Okay, to love kindness.
Well, what does this mean?
Another way I think it'stranslated is love mercy, but
somebody that finds true joy.
Or another way, steadfast love,but that finds selfless joy in
(19:08):
doing good to others, and thisis truly a statement of
selflessness.
When we think about lovingkindness, it's that we are good
to others, not because we'regoing to get something out of it
, but we are good and loving andkind to others because we love
to be kind to others.
(19:29):
Now let's circle this back tothe gospel, because, remember,
the gospel is what motivates us.
The gospel is the startingground here and we have to look
at God.
We have to look at the examplein his son.
Jesus loved kindness, jesusloved mercy.
In Hebrews we're told that itwas for the joy that was set
(19:54):
before him that he endured thecross.
He looked beyond what was hard,to what was going to be the
eternal reward, and that withgreat joy he endured the shame
of the cross.
He loved kindness, he lovedmercy, and he spilled that and
poured that out and demonstratedthat on the cross.
And so when we think aboutloving kindness, we can show
(20:18):
this in so many ways.
Here's an example you go out toeat and your order is messed up.
Your food comes out cold.
They just totally screwed thewhole thing up.
You got an opportunity in thatmoment to love kindness, to show
mercy.
(20:38):
How do you treat your server?
How do you treat your waiter orwaitress when things aren't
well?
Well, think about this verse.
Think about that you're arepresentative of Jesus Christ.
When you're out there or whensomeone says something to you,
(20:58):
that is just completely wrong.
They mischaracterize you, maybethey malign you and you have to
engage that person.
What are you going to do?
Are you going to do justice andlove kindness?
Are you going to show fairnessto that person?
That's not easy.
Remember how we started.
(21:20):
The Christian life is hard,because living a selfless life
is a challenge.
Maybe you are raising childrenand they're getting to the point
where they're starting to getunder your skin over something.
Or maybe the culmination ofthings, and you're ready to just
lose it In that moment.
(21:44):
Think on Micah 6, 8.
Love kindness, six eight.
Love kindness, love mercy.
Preach the gospel to yourself.
Show steadfast love, have anabiding love for others.
This is cultivated throughpractice.
(22:05):
It doesn't just necessarily, Imean the fruit is cultivated, it
doesn't necessarily just poofall the way happen.
Practice this discipline,practice this moral behavior.
Remind yourself of Christ andwhat he has done, and remember
that it's Christ in you, thehope of glory, that can carry
these things out.
So do justice.
(22:25):
Love kindness, love mercy thatmeans be merciful.
Think about the BeatitudesBlessed are the merciful, for
they shall receive mercy.
Show mercy, receive mercy.
And the final one, he says, isto walk humbly, walk humbly.
(22:48):
I said.
You know, for some of us wemight struggle with one of these
big time.
I think this is one that wouldbe challenging for me.
Walk humbly.
I need to remind myself often,daily.
I need to walk in humility.
And where do I go when I thinkabout humility?
(23:08):
Philippians, chapter two.
Again, it's Jesus.
I go back to Jesus.
It's not my performance, it'snot me do better, it's Jesus.
Paul says have this mind amongyourselves, which is yours also
in Christ Jesus.
And then he goes on toexemplify and describe in the
Christ hymn, the humility ofJesus.
In humility, count others moresignificant than yourselves.
(23:32):
Do nothing out of selfishambition or conceit.
And Jesus, look what he did,look who he is.
And it's humility to exaltation.
And so we are to walk humbly.
We are to walk humbly in thisworld.
(23:54):
We are to be people of meekness.
We're not to be people that say, oh, look at me, look at my
platform, look at my following.
You know, it's the proud peoplethat when they're following or
their crew or whatever it is,starts to dwindle, they get
upset.
It's the proud people thatalways have to stand out in
(24:16):
front.
It's the proud people that whenthey're denied opportunity or
it doesn't happen for them,they're upset because it's not
them doing the thing.
The humble people said hey,we're on team Jesus.
Humble people say it's notabout me and mine, it's about
(24:37):
him and his.
And ultimately, whenever thesethings are done, it is for the
glory of Jesus Christ.
And he concludes this line whenhe says to walk humbly.
He says with your God.
It's a recognition of who Godis and, in light of who God is,
(24:57):
who we are.
God is so big.
God is the great creator.
He is and he knows each andevery one of us.
That's an amazing truth.
But when we think about thevastness of God, that should
humble us.
We are but dust.
(25:17):
Peter says what is your lifebut a vapor?
Here one day and gone tomorrow.
We're just a little grain ofsand on this beach of eternity,
and God is the one who hascreated all of it.
(25:41):
Remember this, christian you'venever impressed God with
anything that you've done.
I've never impressed God.
It doesn't matter if I writebooks or if I preach thousands
of sermons or record a bunch ofpodcasts, or whatever it might
be.
God is bigger than this.
We don't.
Oh God, look what I did today.
He knows the end from thebeginning.
He's appointed our lives.
We're not impressing him.
(26:02):
Let's walk humbly with him,seeking to please him, because
God is pleased in us, especiallywhen we are seeking to live
lives that are obedient to him.
But we ultimately need toremember that God is pleased in
us because he's pleased in hisson when he looked down from
heaven and said this is mybeloved son, in whom I am well
pleased.
He did it at Jesus' baptism.
(26:23):
He did it on the Mount ofTransfiguration.
He says listen to him, god ispleased in you because you have
the righteousness of JesusChrist credited to you by faith,
so walk humbly.
It's not that we're something,but we are recognized that who
we are is because of what Godhas done to us, through us, for
(26:48):
his glory and our good.
So he has told you, oh man,what is good and what does the
Lord require of you?
But to do justice, to lovekindness and to walk humbly with
your God.
Think about ways in which youcan practically live out this
truth this week.
(27:08):
Remember gospel first Treatothers with fairness, because
it's not based off of them thatyou're being fair.
It's because God has called youto do that Love, mercy, love to
be merciful, love that you havereceived mercy and walk in your
(27:30):
days with humility with yourGod, knowing that what God says
about us is true, what God saysabout himself is true.
We submit, we accept that andwe walk in manner pleasing to
him, for his glory and our good.
I want to thank you forlistening to the Pleasing God
Podcast.
(27:50):
If you have any questions Iwould love to hear from you.
You can reach out at questionsat pleasinggodpodcastorg, and
remember 1 Thessalonians 4.3,.
This is the will of God, yoursanctification.
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