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The Way Revealed

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The Way Revealed

4 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8).

Throughout the ages the Lord requires the same thing. It is ever and again the way revealed. It was also for that reason that Micah said to Israel, “God has made it known to you.

One no longer needs to ask what that way is.”

God has made known to us what is good and what He requires of us. And that is the same thing. Not only by His gospel, but also by means of His law the Lord has man’s good in view. What the Lord requires is at the same time good for man. And what is this?

The prophet sums it up in three things: doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.

DOING JUSTLY. That is giving to each his own, wherein God always occupies the first place. The world is full of injustice. Much is spoken about the rights of man. Nevertheless, the world remains full of injustice. Why is that? It is because egoism reigns supreme. The cause is because man does not give God His rights. Doing justly means doing what God calls right. Thus it in the first place concerns obeying God and acknowledging His rights. Then it is not concerning man. We must first acknowledge God’s rights, and then, for His sake, also the rights of our neighbor.

What God requires is good for the whole world and for all of society. He who desires to improve the world should begin with himself. For this there is necessary a complete personal regeneration, a radical renewing. We cannot bring this about with anything less than the renewing power of God’s Spirit. That is old news, and nevertheless good news!

LOVING MERCY. That is doing good, because God in His condescending goodness and faithfulness does good. One can always rely upon God, for His words are true. His threatenings, but also His promises, are trustworthy, yesterday, today, and for ever. He is always the same. Thus He, who Himself does good and is faithful, requires of us mercy and faithfulness. It is only in this that we ourselves and society and the entire world can travel safely. God requires only that which is good for all.

However, we are self-willed, proud, disobedient. That is sin. In Paradise man himself also determined what was good, and this was his fall. And it is the same today. There is then a radical turning necessary. That is not new, and yet remains good news!

WALKING HUMBLY WITH GOD. That is also a command, but it is not a harsh law. Therein lies life, for young and for old. That is true life. We cannot stand upon our own legs, nor can we walk alone, for this will result in going astray eternally. Walking with God, as Enoch did, is living with God, expecting all from Him, and taking refuge in Him.

It is a wonder, and therefore will always bring humility. It is grace, a cause for eternal astonishment. It is God’s love in Jesus Christ, who for all those who walk with God has healed the breach and brought about reconciliation by perfect satisfaction. It is the way revealed; old news, but we must hear it time and time again. Indeed, above all things, forget it not, for it is reality.

May the Lord grant us, by His Spirit, to do what He requires of us. It is good for us and for everyone. It is the best news. There is no other way. It is not something new, and yet, upon this way revealed, the Lord, by His Word and Spirit, makes all things new!

Help me Thy will to do,
Thy truth I will pursue,
Teach me to fear.

— Rev. J. van Vliet
(1921-1985)


Should I rejoice in this my youth,
And shun the paths of peace and truth;
And should I let my heart embrace
The mirth of every carnal place;
For this and every such like thing,
God will my soul to judgment bring.

Oh, then, what need I have of grace,
To keep me through my youthful days;
This grace, if God vouchsafe to give,
Then I to Him shall truly live;
Then sin and death will lose their sting,
When God shall me to judgment bring.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van donderdag 1 oktober 1998

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's

The Way Revealed

Bekijk de hele uitgave van donderdag 1 oktober 1998

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's