act right, love mercy, walk with God

Micah 6:8 NLT

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

That verse came alive for me in 2000 when I was preparing a message for a pre-game, Friday night high school football game in rural Georgia. It was one of those times that I remember so very well.

Maybe God was just speaking to me.

Most likely God was doing more in that moment and in my life than I really know. I remember almost nothing else about that week, about that night and about the outcome of the message. What I do remember was that God spoke volumes to me through that verse.

Take a few minutes to read it again. Maybe even memorize that verse.

God doesn’t hide things from us because he is a cruel God. He opens our eyes and our hearts as we choose to go after Him. That is when we realize that God has been and is pursuing us. That never stops.

He told us. God told us what His desire and requirement is of us. These three things might seem simple, but they are somewhat complicated. Wait. Are they simple or complicated?

I suggest that what complicates them is us. What God intends is simple. Just follow. Walk on. Love what God loves. This is not a check this. This is a get real list and come to me list.

James 4:17 NASB

So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin.

Choose to do what is right and what you know is right.

1 John 2:15 NASB

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Love what God loves. Love the mercy He gives. Love to share that mercy with others.

Psalm 84:11 NASB

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.

Just walk with God. The other two things add to this or make it more special.

That night in 2000 will stick out for me forever. God has told me what He wants. He has told you as well. Do right. Love right. Walk with God.

It really is that simple.

Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" (brand new book)

One of the most powerful preachers, writers and leaders of our time, in my opinion, is Francis Chan. His first book, Crazy Love , revolutionized my thoughts about God's love as well as my interacting with God. Now it is time for a brand new book from Chan being released tomorrow, September 1st. The book is Forgotten God . This is a phenomenal book about the power that Christians and the church can and must tap into. All of it is within the Holy Spirit. Francis talks about the power that was seen in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit began to move among people. It is true that many have avoided or maybe forgotten what the Holy Spirit is all about. And like the Savior who poured out His life and blood so we have reason to rejoice, we were made to lay down our lives and give until it hurts. We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and ac...

inspiration from C.S. Lewis

There are many people, past and present, who get our attention by what they write or say or share. For me C.S. Lewis is one of those. He was a prolific writer who continues to grab the attention of thinkers from many different points of view. Lewis first grabbed my attention when I was in 5 th grader, and our teacher, Mrs. Foy, shared The Chronicles of Narnia with our class. It was a powerful time that this dreamer opened doors to thinking like I had never lived before. He wrote of faith, of far off places and of strong figures who found their character rooted deep in God. C.S. Lewis was born in 1898 and died in 1963, 7 years before I was born. It wasn’t until his 30’s that under the influence of his friend Tolkien that he came to be a Christian. He was raised in a traditional church going home, turned away from God as an Atheist in his teen years and through trying to stay away from God and faith returned to God with...

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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