December 24, 2018 - There is an age-old question; How shall I come before the Lord, what am I to do to be saved, and how do I then live the Christian life that Jesus Christ requires of me, to assist in spreading the gospel?
A young man once came before the prophet, Micah, with this question; “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?” (Micah 6:6)
To his question, how do I seek salvation from the Lord? The old prophet then answered.
“He has told you, O man, what is good: and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
And so the old prophet answered his question telling him that one does not need to bring offerings or sacrifices before the Lord when seeking salvation. No, one only needs to live the life of righteousness by doing justly toward all people. By showing mercy to those less fortunate than oneself, and by humbling oneself before God. Committing ones life and actions to serving the Lords will and not his own or the wishes of the world. Jesus had not yet been born on earth and so he is looking only to the Father for salvation.
King Solomon gives us even a roadmap into living the Christian life in his book of Proverbs as he says;
“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your ear to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.” (Proverbs 2:1-8)
King Solomon is telling all that if; we are faithful and true to the Lord our God, and follow his commands in our lives, listening to the Holy Spirit as he guides us through life. If we call out in prayer for wisdom and understanding that we may better serve him each day. If we truly seek to do his will and not our own each day, then he will give us understanding that we can know his will and his wishes for us every day of our lives on earth. The apostle John follows this up with these words of wisdom for all who do accept Jesus as Lord;
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:15)
As we know from the scriptures, that is all one must do to saved; “Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
“By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgement, because as he is so also are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17)
And that is the commission that all Christians have been given, to live a life of service, reflecting the goodness, love, grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus to all that we meet each day. For by our lives Jesus is known to the world. May you accept him as Lord and live the life of a disciple helping to spread the gospel every day.
