What the Lord Requires

By Bob Myhan

In every age [Patriarchal, Mosaic and Christian] God has had only three requirements of man.

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)

Let us look at each of these three requirements.

"To do justly"

"Justly" means "in accordance with what is right." "To do justly," then, means "to act in accordance with what is right."

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. (Prov. 21:3)

"To love mercy”

"Mercy" is the "outward manifestation of pity...; assumes need on the part of him who receives it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it." "To love mercy" means to long for, look for and take advantage of opportunities for such "outward manifestations."

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Gal. 6:9-10)

"To walk humbly with your God"

"Humility" refers to "lowliness of mind." "To walk humbly with thy God" means to live one's life with the comprehension of one's own comparative unimportance.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:7-10)

Atheistic Approximations

One who claims he does not believe in God cannot consistently maintain there is an objective standard of right and wrong by which the behavior of man ought to be judged because an objective standard of right and wrong would imply the existence of someone other and greater than man to set the standard. That is, if there is no God with whom “to walk humbly,” then there is no objective reason for us “to do justly” or “to love mercy.” In fact, without God there is no “ought.”

Yet, atheists frequently hold man accountable to a universal law by insisting that all men ought "to do justly” and “to love mercy." In doing this, atheists are "approximating" two-thirds of the requirements of God.

However, if there is no higher being to require us "to do justly” and “to love mercy," each person is free to do "that which [is] right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). This is the main reason, in this writer’s opinion, that school violence has escalated in the United States since the day that God was escorted out of our public school system.

Despite these approximations, atheists have no hope in death for they do not believe in God, much less "walk humbly" with Him.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb. 11:6)

When Robert Owen was visiting Alexander Campbell prior to the Campbell-Owen debate on the existence of God, Campbell asked Owen if he did not fear death. Owen replied, pointing to a bull, “I have no more fear of death than that bull.” Campbell responded that Owen could give no reason why man should rise above the level of a brute, which stands grazing all day having neither fear nor hope in death. &

"Supplement Your Faith" #4

By Bob Myhan

If we would be "partakers of the divine nature," we must “make every effort to supplement … knowledge with self-control.” (2 Peter 1:4-6, ESV) The word for “self-control” means "strength;" it refers to the mastery over self. It is not merely controlling self, but controlling self as directed by the word of God. It involves both moderation and abstinence, but also much more.

"The various powers bestowed by God upon man are capable of abuse; the right use demands the controlling power of the will" (Vine). The demand of righteousness requires self-control (Acts 24:25). Knowledge is logically prior to self-control because "the right use" of "the various powers bestowed by God upon man" depends upon our ability "to distinguish good from evil" (Heb. 5:14, ESV). It is possible, however, for this "controlling power" to be impaired or usurped by emotions, such as anger, fear, hatred, shame, grief, loneliness and worry; by social pressure from family or peers; by habit-forming drugs, such as tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceuticals; by desires for food, sexual intimacy, money, employment, job or political advancement; and by bad habits involving offensive language, such as lying, cursing and gossiping. Therefore, if we are to maintain self-control, we must strengthen the "power of the will." This is done by sheer determination [the force of the will]; that is, by "giving all diligence" (2 Peter 1:5).

Each athletic contestant knows that only one person can win each event (1 Cor. 9:24-27). When Paul writes, "So run, that ye may obtain it," he seems to be implying that we ought to live as if only one person were going to make it to heaven. Wouldn't this result in a great deal more diligence on the part of all?

The struggle for self-control—and it is a struggle—is a struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. The fleshly desires cry out for fulfillment; the Spirit tells us how they may legitimately be fulfilled (Gal. 5:16-23). The law in our members leads us to do what the law of God tells us not to do (Rom. 7:7-24).

Victory, therefore, is in Jesus and in Him alone. We will never master our desires without surrendering to Him by doing His will (Rom. 7:25; 8:1-4). He lives in me if and only if I am living "by the faith of the Son of God" (Gal. 2:20, KJV; cf. Jude 3).

Self-control—or lack of it—is manifested in numerous ways. Are we, for example, keeping our emotions and drives in check (Eph. 4:26; James 1:19-20; Matt. 5:27-28)? Are we putting God first in our lives—even ahead of family and friends (Matt. 10:28,32-39)? Are we keeping the use of even legitimate pharmaceuticals to a minimum (1 Tim. 5:23)? Are we consciously replacing harmful habits with productive ones (1 Cor. 16:15)? Are we careful to fulfill our drives and satisfy our desires within the parameters of God's will (1 John 2:15-17; Heb. 13:4; 1 Peter 2:2)?

Do we love people and use money, not vice versa (1 Tim. 6:10, 17-19)? Do we bridle our tongues (James 1:26)? How well we do this is the acid test of self-control [a thorough test to find out the real quality of some person or thing].

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body (James 3:2, KJV).

You cannot hope to "glorify God in your body" (1 Cor. 6:20) without exercising self-control. Who or what controls you? &