My dear friend Tracy really sees the poetry of life, she seeks after Wisdom and she loves the Lord. I am so glad she shares her heart with us. Won’t you make her feel welcome by posting a comment below? 18 to 3. Not a World Cup score, that’s for certain. My son’s Little League baseball score. His team earned the 3. Walking back to the car following the defeat, I felt toward the celebrating team a little like Saul in 1 Samuel 18:6-10. David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistines and the women began to sing: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” Then Saul was very angry and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” So Saul eyed David from that day forward. God then placed a distressed spirit on Saul. If Saul had renounced his rights and been willing to joyfully bear the hurt and celebrated with David, I wonder if God would have brought the victory of peace upon him? The Bible depicts a resentful Saul who did not live the remainder of his days joyfully or peacefully.

How then, might we conform ourselves
to the will of our Creator in order
to live joyfully and peacefully?

1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds us that we are not our own. Amos 5:21-24 confirms that the basic issue at stake in our relationship with God is not the nature of our worship. Hebrews 11:5-6 reminds us about Enoch, whose walk was pleasing to the Lord. Verse 6 emphasizes,”But without faith it is impossible to please Him.” I am drawn to #SummerofJoy scriptures Micah 6:8 and Philippians 2:2-11 as I resolve to walk in obedience. In order to penetrate to the depths of Micah 6:8, and in cooperative Bible study fashion, I sought input from others.

Feedback from Friends‘¦

Micah 6:8

Teresa

I had the sign made because it occurred to me that it was the perfect list of family rules. There aren’t many things that come up in a household and in a family relationship that that verse doesn’t cover. Tempted to tell a lie or take something that isn’t yours? Do what is right. Did someone hurt you or wrong you?  Love mercy.  Feeling entitled or want your own way?  Walk humbly and in all things be with your God.

Cati

The Israelites were inquiring about the appropriate sacrifice to please THIS God. God did not want ritual sacrifice, He wanted something much deeper. He still does. He wants to engage us. He wants to change us and restore us to right relationship with Him. We are to be made His own. Living redeemed.

“To do justly” is not enough, which is why it is partnered with “love mercy”. Justice and mercy run into ONE strand, mercy is a part of justice because it gets to the heart of elementary morality. Finally, in walking humbly with our God, “can two walk together lest they be agreed?”(Amos 3:3). No. Every thought within us must be brought down, then strategically placed into obedience to God, in order to have a comfortable walk.

Notice this emphasis in Philippians 2:2-11 ”Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus‘¦”

Paul doesn’t say strive for it, work for it, earn it , or imitate it. He says you already HAVE the mind of Christ if you have Him. May we renounce our rights and be willing to accept injury for the sake of a joyful and peaceful walk with Him. We will only experience the mind of Christ to the degree that we personally accept it. Christ certainly gave up His rights. Celebrating others, relinquishing control over a loss, gladly bearing a hurt by a loved one, pursuing a difficult relationship in lieu of running the opposite direction. How are you activating the mind of Christ in order to consistently and faithfully do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?