What God requires of us
It’s been almost two months since I started blogging. I’ve been writing every day. I post 6 days a week, 51 one articles so far. I don’t know who reads my posts but I write anyway because writing provides me a way to reflect and bring clarity to my sometimes muddled mind.
I wonder why I make extra work for myself. As if life isn’t busy enough. Maybe I write because things bother me. No, not about my angst or personal life but about the things going on in the world today.
I see media shared on TikTok and other social media. Some are frivolous, entertaining and funny. Others are, well… 🤦🏻♀️. I want to talk about the things that are true and honourable and just and pure, the things that are lovely and commendable. (Philippians 4:8-9)
The other day someone complained to me about the preacher rehashing the cruel whipping and torture done to Jesus on the cross. “Why must they keep talking about it?” She said we should just focus on the lovely teachings of Jesus. The Jesus I know isn’t about saccharine, sugar-coated sweetness.
The Bible records the time when Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the place of worship. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. Pigeons are offerings made by the very poor who could not afford lambs. These traders were squeezing the least and the marginalised.
He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” (Matthew 21:12-13)
There is a lot of awful things being said and done. I am not blind to them.
It’s speaks so much to me of what we have done to this beautiful world our Father made.
I won’t go into a hot potato discussion about the recent November change of leadership. But I celebrate whenever someone endeavours to make right what is wrong.
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
– Micah 6:8
How do we experience peace in the face of evil?
The apostle Paul said, What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)
Verse 3
This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!
By Maltbie D. Babcock
(1858 –1901)