God’s Requirements - Martin Wiles

This is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 NLT

One by one, they filed into the classroom and took their assigned seats—then waited for my instructions.

The first day of school is always interesting—especially for sixth graders entering the new world of middle school. They’ve heard the horror stories from their older siblings or from older peers who’ve already experienced the journey.

As they sat with blank stares on their faces and anxiety in their eyes—waiting for me to make the first move—I took my place behind the podium. Since I teach Language Arts—which consists of four courses—my requirements are normally lengthier. I took the syllabus in hand and spewed my expectations of them and also the requirements for doing well in the class.

Their facial expressions didn’t change much. Some were in shock. Others looked at their neighbor with disbelief. Only a few seemed excited.

According to the prophet Micah—and the entire biblical message—God has requirements also. The requirement for having a relationship with Him is belief in His Son and the sacrifice He made on Calvary’s cross. But beyond that, more requirements follow—not for salvation, but as a result of it. God expects right living, mercy, and humility.

Doing the right thing is easier said than done. My mind excels at rationalization and justification. Convincing myself a normally forbidden action is acceptable under the circumstances isn’t difficult. Joseph could have done it when the boss’ wife invited him to come to bed with her (Genesis 39). He was a slave who’d been betrayed and sold by his brothers. Maybe this would make him feel better. But he refused. God outlines the right He wants us to live by in His Word.

God wants mercy. The kind He showed us when He rescued us from our sins rather than letting us die in them. The type He shows daily by giving us good things instead of what we might deserve. Mercy turns our eyes and hands away from ourselves and to others.

God also wants humility. Not thinking less of ourselves than we should but also not imagining more about ourselves than we ought to. Humility helps us remember that while we can do all things with Christ we can do nothing apart from Him.

God’s requirements are designed to make your life better. Start living by them today.

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Prayer: Father, give us the courage to take up the mantels of right living, humility, and mercy. 

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Throwback Tuesday - Fishing in the Right Place - Martin Wiles

Fishing in the Right Place

Have you ever tried your best and came up empty? 

I’ve fished many times and came up dry, but my grandmother rarely did. Had you seen her on the Santee River in her wooden boat and traditional garb, you would have assumed she was a man out for a day of fishing. But my grandmother was a fisherwoman—and a good one at that. She went often and stayed long. When I tagged along, I knew it was going to be an all-day affair. She prepared herself with frozen jugs of water and plenty of sandwiches. And her preparation normally paid off. Read more...

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Changing the Mind - Martin Wiles

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you. Romans 12:2 NLT

Doing so may be a woman’s prerogative, but for me, it means bumped shins and stumped toes.

Moving furniture around is one of my wife’s favorite activities. It once was mine too. Before I got older and developed an aching back. Not that I detest changing things; I merely get accustomed to their arrangement and see no need for change. For me, buying a small piece of furniture doesn’t mean we have to move everything around in every room to accommodate it. Not so with my wife.

When furniture moves, I’m more apt to hurt myself. Stumping a toe accompanies a nighttime trip to the bathroom. A chair has moved. Or if not the toe, my shin. Until I get accustomed to the new arrangement, accidents happen. I have to re-orient my mind so even when I’m half asleep I think about the new order of things.

Paul challenges believers to renew their minds—and with good reasons. Danger lurks when we don’t. Renewing involves change, but this change is for my benefit.

To see the need to change my mind, I have to acknowledge it needs changing. Since Paul instructs me not to copy the customs and behavior of the world system, he must know I’m prone to do that. And I am because of inherent sinful nature and because of the fleshly nature, I retain even after letting Christ into my life.

Renewing my mind means reorienting it to think as God thinks. He ruminates on things that are good, righteous, holy, kind, loving, joyful, peaceful, and faithful. My normal thinking leads me away from such thoughts. Renewing my mind through Bible study, meditation, prayer, and accountability with other believers keeps me thinking properly.

My wife never seems to finish rearranging furniture, and I can’t ever cease renewing my mind. Since what I think leads to actions, I must renew my mind frequently so my daily actions match who I am in Christ: a new creation with new wants, desires, and emotions.

I suppose as long as my wife can move—or at least tell me too—we’ll move furniture. She’ll never know satisfaction with one particular arrangement. Nor should I when it comes to changing my mind.

Don’t be afraid to change your mind. Doing so will always keep you in tune with God’s will.

Tweetable: Are you letting God change your mind?

Prayer: Father, guide us to renew our minds daily so we never miss Your best for us or walk onto sinful paths. 

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Clogged Up - Martin Wiles

But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command. 1 Samuel 13:14 NLT

The time had come. I’d either have to repair her or park her.

My old car with nearly 300,000 miles was puttering along. She idled fine, but when I came to a stop, I had to juice the gas to keep her running. Since I had no funds for repair, I kept driving her—until the day when she wouldn’t breathe any longer.

I carted her to the mechanic who diagnosed her as having a clogged fuel filter and a defective oxygen sensor. When either are defective, the engine runs rough—or not at all. Mine had approached the not at all stage.  

After replacing the defective parts, she ran like a charm. Now, I can approach stop signs and traffic lights without placing my foot on the accelerator while holding the brake with the other and at the same time worrying I’m going to accidentally plunge into the car ahead of me.

King Saul’s engine was clogged also—but the clog had nothing to do with fuel. He had a faulty part called disobedience. As king, he had no right to make sacrifices, but when the prophet Samuel tested his patience, he knowingly made sacrifices anyway. This act of disobedience disqualified him as king. God would search for someone with a heart that beat to the same tune as His.

I’ve endured those times when my life puttered along like my car engine. Starts and stops and hiccups and hang-ups. Like King Saul, sometimes my disobedience was the issue clogging my fuel line. At other times, God was testing my faith and refining my resolve to follow Him. In either case, not doing anything about the clog eventually led me to a standstill.

Sin always disrupts the flow of God’s blessings and initiates God’s discipline. Love will allow Him to do no less. Bad choices, misplaced priorities, and busyness can also interrupt the flow. Things that aren’t sinful, but things that get in the way of smooth idling.

Whatever clogs my life is eliminated by confession and repentance. Sounds easy enough, but it isn’t always. Hanging on to what I want is easier than letting go for what God wants. But abundance and peace only come when I do.

Ask God to show you what is clogging up your life and robbing you of His blessings.

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Prayer: Father, we ask You to remove whatever is clogging our engines and hindering us from running as You desire us to. 

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