Why is that?
Because the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient Creator God gets it right the first time, in the beginning. There is no need for revision, nor amendments. God's will is good, acceptable, and perfect out of the gate. See Romans 12:12.
God's is holy and righteous. His character always has been. "Holy, holy, holy says is the Lord of hosts;" says the prophet Isaiah in Is. 6:3. God is immutable, unchanging in character. People like us? Not so much. Still we bear God's image; human beings are made in God's likeness.
"So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Gen. 1:27
Incredibly, God loves people just like you and me, despite our many faults, despite our wandering away. God was willing to go on a seek and rescue mission because he loves all of us, not just one corner of the planet. He chose to love rather than crush his creation. "For God so loved the world..." John 3.16
Now what?
God expects his followers to live rightly. The fruit of the Spirit ought be on display in the lives of Christians.
The prophet Micah writes:
"He has told you, O mortal, 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 NSRV
Jesus challenges:
“Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom." Matt. 5:20, The Message
Christians are called to follow Jesus. Thomas Merton prayed in Lent and Easter Wisdom from Thomas Merton, Day 24: "By your grace let me be an instrument of your call to freedom and creativity in the lives of all whom you redeem. Let them hear your call to the only liberty that matters: to choose to follow you."
That may cost you and me some votes, views, likes, or your life, as it has in times past. Look to Jesus. Look at church leaders from Martin Luther to Martin Luther King Jr. Look at the ripples running through the Southern Baptist denomination today, when Beth Moore realigns her life with God's character and values.
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| "Let your light shine..." Matt 5:16 |
