May 19

Micah 6:8
“He hath showed 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 6:88He hath showed 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 all dispensations, and transcending all legal regulations, we see in Scripture the precious truth that eternal salvation is only through the matchless grace of God in Christ Jesus. But different tests have been put upon men in the various ages of time, in order to show them their own unworthiness and inability to earn divine favor. Nevertheless, whether before or after the cross, all who profess to have entered into relationship with God are called to walk in obedience to His revealed will. In the legal dispensation no one was ever justified by either the law itself (Rom. 3:2020Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)) or by the sacrificial system (Heb. 10:44For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4)) which foreshadowed the one offering of our Saviour. But the practical righteousness of believers consisted in obedience to the commandments of God. In this present dispensation of grace we are saved through faith alone, but are now called to walk as obedient children, glorifying God in our daily lives. If we fail in this, we come under divine discipline (Heb. 12:6-126For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; (Hebrews 12:6‑12)).
“Thou sweet beloved Will of God,
My anchor ground, my fortress hill,
The Spirit’s silent fair abode,
In Thee I hide me and am still.
O Will, that wiliest good alone,
Lead Thou the way, Thou guidest best;
A silent child, I follow on,
And trusting, lean upon Thy breast.
God’s will doth make the bitter sweet,
And all is well when it is done;
Unless His will doth hallow it,
The glory of all joy is gone.”