Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-02-15
WHAT GOD REQUIRES or us

WHAT GOD REQUIRES OF US
Text-"what doth thy God require of thee
but to do justly and to love mercy ana 10 WAR
humbly with thy God P'-Micah. S:S.
Are the words of our text true? Is 1t possible
that the true religion of the Bible demands
nothing more OF us than is expressed In thls
text7 What about the Jewish law! "hut
about its sin offering It's purnt ,S oaie ,an com.
mandments? What about the digest OF muse
commandments approved by our I0tu "Seu1 ,,
Thou shalt love the LORD y % .r1th ~ inv
being with all thy strength, AMI ,hou SUI - -
love thy neighbor as thyselfr' what aDot'
church attendance what ABOUT 0S nhrrcIS To
the moor What about study OF the bloie 10
know Gods wil7 What shout our responsloln, "
for the heather? What about oaptism ANU
indjrectly. dear brethren, all the matters IN
cluded In our questions and many more are
included incidentally in the provisions OF "uL
text Sometimes a whole sermon Is preaeheu
No one viii dispute the reasonableness OF the
Divine requirement stated In our teAl. ou
Creator could not Justly or with self-respect
ask less than this of His creatures VINO MouIu
enjoy His favor. The interests OF al or
that these principles should be required OF
every creature permitted the enjoy ment OF III
vine favor to the extent of eternal Ire. WIZ
ever fails to come up to these
Tins evidence his unworthines5 VT Ire eternal
his prolonged existence would merely De pros
pering of sin and a menace to the happiness anu
right Rousness OF others ~. al. n,,,,Da
Bun now let us see the scope OF tnls DIVINE
re0uiyxznent whose justice We have aireauy
acknowledged. We note the natural DIVISION Oh
our text into three parts:
az Doing just
(2) Loving mercy.
(3) Walking humbly. =, -. - H.,
The requirement OF justice IN an 0, our uea.
ipgs with our fellows commends itself 10 every
rational mind. 1t includes the whole law VI
Cod brief statement of that law WHEN .ocI.
had Lords approval reads, hou sns ana an
thy mind all thy being and all thy stret,'a ;
and thou shalt love thy neighoor as thysen n.
On these two propositions hang al Ine law
and the prophets. 1t is but just that we
should recognize our Creator as first; that
we should glorify the one who gaze US our
being and all the blessings that come tuere"''h'
that we should be obedient to His righteous re
duirements that make Tor our own nsIpH t" :
ard that of others II Is also put TIN ss
we should recognize the rights OF otuers' ar, Ss
we would have them recognize our rig'ts. Ihe
Golden Rule is the barest OF Justice. nor
hairs breadth less would come WITHIN mn, 'ne t,tn
LET us reason together. How many OF US 40
Justly in all Of life's affars-in our rela'loh-
ship TO our God and to our nelghDor n,s
Begin at home. Let each one eriuclhe nIs
words and his deeds toward his parents; toward
his children; toward his brothers; toward M
sisters; toward husband t0M " nfs treat ese
who are so near and dear 10 US according
to the standards of justice ACCORDING 10 .he
Goldau Rulp? Do do NOWaru tnem as We
wonid have them do toward us? If not. aIter
making q beginning with the LORD STRIVING 70
render TO him our homage and opedlehce, ies
US closely scrutinize every WORD, every act "a
tho home life and see to what extent these can
he improved upon and made more nearly gust.
The majority Of people, We feel sure, VIII De
surprised to know how unjust they nave peer,
toryarG those who are of the very nearest anu
dearest of flcshly relationships. -
Follow the matter up and consider the JUS
tce or injustice Of your words S ana d.v assoc
GATES Do you invariably speak to them IN
the same words and with the same tone ano
gesture that you would approve II tney w ters
in your place and you in thelrsE IN mattels
of business do you drive a closer bargain wltt
them than you would think just for them &c
make with you? Or, on the other hand, 90 you
ask of them higher prices for the services OF
ms terials YOU furnish them than you would
consider lust and right IL you were the pur
chaser and they the vendors? Do you watcl
your. chickens that they do not commit urepr re
fully as you would wish your nelghDor tC
watch his chickens as respects your garden, II
you had one. Do you blow no more tooacct
smke in the face Of your neighbor than YOU
would like to have him blow In your face! Are
YOU as careful about wiping your rect whel
entering his house as you would IKE MIN 10 %
when entering your house? Do you treat al
men women children and animals as kindly
as gently as properly every way, as you WoulO
think would be just and right If you were II
their place and they IN YOURS 80 Won oUu Would
have them speak of you? Do you hold W
their imperfections to ridicule, as you wouIo
like to have them hold up yours pr ySU
guard your tongue so that you speak only
things you would think proper for your ne1gn
Dor to speak respecting you, II you changed
places? - r,,>,,, >,opr
10 Won not begin to see, dear friends thai
what God requires of us is much beyond whal
the majority have been renderlngt DO YOU
stand appalled, and tell me that II woulu 4t
FULLY
I agree with you. And st. Paul agrees, saying
1--WE cannot do the things which we would.
The Scriptures again agree and declare, tners
90 mono righteous, no. not one. All nave slnheo
and come short of the glory OF God.
What shall we do2 Shall we say that be-
csuse we are unable TO live up TO our own
concentions and standards OF justice We VIII
make no attempt to do so, but abandon tnose
standards entirely? God forbid, we are weak
enough and imperfect enough as 1t is 10 lg
more our best ideals of justice would De to
tske off all the breaks and permit the down
ward tendencies of our depraved natures &c
90 rapidIy from bad Ia worse-to carry us fur
Their and further from God and the STANDARDS
of character which he approves We can sure
Iv be content to co nothing less than our very
hest TO live I'D to our own ideals and to raise
those ideals as nearly as possible TO the III
vine WHAT WOULD BE THE USE?
Suppose we do our very best daily to meas
ure M to our highest conceptions OF our too.
given ideals and standards. would Goa accep,
Of this and count us worthy of his FAVOR and
oF eternal life? Surely not. The law Of the
Lord is perfect. Justice is justice Not the
nearer of a law. not the well-wishing, receives
tbe reward but the doer, the obedient. Here
then we find ourselves in difficulty. With
chr hearts our minds, we approve Gods law
and desire to be Obedient to Him, but find, as
ST. Paul says. that many things we WISH 20
do we fail to accomplish, and many or tht
things we do not wish to do we cannot avoid
1--WE cannot do the things that we would. we
approve the excellent demands Of Gods law
We disonnrove the imperfectiOns of OWL
flesh like st. Paul, cry out. 30 wretcheC
man that | ami who shall deliver me from this
dead body ?"-this body that Is lmperIecl
thror,ob inherited sin and weaknesses. Witt
our minds we serve Gods law and approve it
but with our bodies we come short. What i
our hops2 HOY shall We be deuyeredf esI