Walking Under the Eye of God

The Setting

If by some evil, and external great powerful force, our country was commanded that all of the places of worship were somehow to be destroyed; bibles were all burned, and the civil authorities outlawed any public and private worship as criminal behavior, the question is how will worshiping God look publicly?

What thoughts, actions, and deeds on the part of the “Beloved Community” would not only exemplify the totality of the Holy Scriptures, but God would still be able to find great delight and praise on the part of those who still were able to walk under the eyes of God in spite of these above mentioned circumstances.

The Questions

Has our modern faith and practice, whether individualized or corporate become so institutionalized that perhaps we are guilty of compartmentalization of what we consider faith and worship?

Are we not guilty of only practicing our faith only when we gather in worship, while throughout the remaining days of the week, we live as do the worldly ones, yet are not convicted when believers are expressing and living more fleshly than that of a regenerative spirituality of the redeemed lifestyle, that is pleasing to God?

What real value is it on the larger social and cultural landscape if we only practice our “faith” outwardly within our religious institutions while becoming “missing in action” as it pertains to living out loud our faith before our godless culture? Can this current generation of believers win this cultural warring for the souls that ultimately belong to God?

The Keys

Michah 6:8

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good and what does the Lord require of you! To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.

If and when the above setting does, in fact, plays itself out during our lifetime, the minor prophet Micah provides each of us three major keys for us to consider, if we willfully, desire to Walk under the Eyes of God!

How does true worship look like publically?

First, we are to act equitably toward others as best as we possibly can in this very uncivil and hostile culture. Acting equitable implies treating others with fairness, justly, and in a reasonable manner. We are not to display willful impartiality due to some external difference or preference.

Likewise, we are encouraged to not willfully, hurt nobody by word or deed, [see last weeks fristfruitsperspective.org blog post entitled, ” The Key to Perfection: A Controlled Tongue.”

Micah 2:1 [The Living Translation] records a very stern warning for those who lack the moral discipline toward goodness, due to this fallen evil that is within our unregenerated hearts.

“What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night, thinking up evil plans. You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out, simply because you have the power to do so.”

Next, we then are commanded to Love Mercy! How does mercy look like in a godless culture?

For those who are walking with God and are empowered by His Holy Spirit have it within themselves to horizontally, treat others with loving-kindness. This loving-kindness is a grace-driven tenderness and favorable consideration toward others, often-times in their surroundings and situations, and not our own!

The Holy Scriptures, The Law, and the Prophets hinge on these life-changing and life-giving spiritual acts [to act justly and love mercy] toward others. The Master stated, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.“

Matt. 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Note: evil begets only evil, while righteousness begets righteousness.

Perhaps in this current evil and godless culture, it only begs to inquire, “Just who is my neighbor?”

The only profitable answer is by our Master in Luke 10, the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus not only communicated about showing love for others, But He also practiced this important teaching toward those who were within his personal space.

One’s neighbor is those who are within one’s personal space in your coming and going. It also includes one’s enemies, Matt. 5:43-48 This matter of enemies depicts those who one is hostile toward, thus being unfriendly or even opposed to, if not confrontational.

I personally must confess, that I do not handle myself biblically as I ought to when I must deal with in the face confrontations. Most recently, those whom I consider individuals who I am hostile toward entered into my life unexpected while creating much grief and uncertainty within my life.

The good news is that it really does not matter of the circumstances of the hostile confrontations that we must face, in the Hands of God, these opportunities can become a gift from above. God will permit enemies to come into our personal lives, in an effort to challenges each of us to re-examine our hearts and our lives.

Those who are mature in the Faith, are not to condemn or attack those who we are in conflict with, but we are to trust that God has the right to use whatever means necessary, in an effort to deepen our own spirituality during these and other most challenging times.

Trust me on this note: this is not easy for me in our current spiritual, social, political, economic, and cultural warring faction settings in America.

Those of us who are redeemed are charged and commanded to Walk humbly with God, not by our human strength and abilities, but only by the supernatural spirit of God gracing us with humility and obedience.

For the mature follower who is biblically literate, understands that God will always resist the proud and give grace to the humble. A follower will always know if they are living a noble lifestyle of humility when they are not driven and or ruled by pride or arrogance.

The final important key is learning to walk humbly before the Lord. The discipline of Godly obedience is of great importance within all Scripture and the lifestyle and “The Walk” of the child of God.

It was in the pathway of disobedience that man lost the favor and the life of God, thus it is only in the “way of obedience” that the favor and the regenerative spiritual life can again be enjoyed!

“To Walk” is an expression which implies, “to live and act” as the ancient patriarchs and matriarchs are said to have “Walked with God! As the Holy Scriptures denotes, that many were able to consciously live and walk under the Eye of God and referred all their actions to Him throughout their lives.

We today, must follow this spiritual pathway in our coming and going, Amen!

Wrapping Things Up

As I was scanning the Holy Scriptures during this blog post, it was noted that the command to love God with our entire being, and our neighbors as ourselves is surprisingly second to the comforting words of God toward each of us, “Be not afraid!”

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Whatever challenges, dangers, situations, and evil that we will face, we are not to permit fear to displace our faith in the things of God and His promises for us.

For the tenderness of God’s love that is bestowed on our behalf through the righteousness of Christ, grants God’s His universal right to rule and have all authority over our lives as He acts and wills on our behalf. This is how He receives all of the praise, and glory through our willful submission to His will throughout our journey.

It is He who makes us strong, while we are weak in His presence. He is our ever-presence in times of danger and distress. Our God will sustain our every need, even when we have to give our very last, and are without the very things that provide us comfort.

It is by His mighty right hand that forever grants all of us our daily portion of both spiritual and material needs and blessings, for now, and forevermore, Amen.