Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 120 - What the Lord Requires
Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast
Episode #120 – What the Lord Requires
Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to seek, find, and follow Jesus together as we live with purposed eternal perspective.
Living with eternal perspective is something we honor in our home. Not only because that is the name of this podcast, but because each of us believes in the importance of viewing each day with eyes set on eternity. This podcast has been a beautiful tool in our home, and because of it, my daughters and husband are also much more aware of ways we can shift our mindset and attitude toward Christ and seek to allow Him first importance in our daily activities and plans.
Watching my girls grow in Christlike character is a gift. I’m sure you understand the joy when you witness the changes Jesus makes on the surrendered heart of your child. As we watch our children allow Jesus into their life and submit to Him to alter the mindset and desires they carry, we more clearly understand the responsibility a parent carries to make Jesus known. There is really nothing else that compares with preparing ourselves and our children for eternity.
Sometimes we can be so wrapped up in daily living that we miss what God calls for us. The simplicity and complexity of raising a child to know, love, honor, and follow Christ is the greatest gift He can bestow on parents. It’s easy to forget exactly what God truly requires of us when we get lost in the hustle of life instead of keeping eyes fixed above. I believe that serving God is of utmost importance, especially when He is calling us to such a high task. Truly, obedience is key. However, we only create busywork, not an honoring service for Him if we are not simply spending time in the presence of Jesus to know Him.
John 12:1-8 says, “Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. ” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of My burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me.”
What I notice the most about these verses is that Mary was loving, humble and teachable. Through her actions, she proved what was important in her heart; what her mind was focused on.
Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
This humble follower of Christ recognized that she must be more occupied with Jesus than for Him.
Another verse that shows us to fix our attention and heart on Jesus is found in Luke 10:41, which says, “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Martha was so consumed with doing for Jesus that she lost opportunities to be with Him. How can we know how to please God if we do not know Him?
If only we could continually live with the childlike faith God calls us to carry. Christian life shouldn’t be complicated. Our stubbornness, pride, ego, greed, fears, wickedness, and sins separate us from the ability to fellowship with our Father as we should. Have you made your walk with Christ harder than it should be? Have you complicated your salvation thinking you have to serve or do in order to please God?
I remember when I first became a Christian I was so eager to serve! I joined so many committees. I don’t remember ever stopping to ask God what direction He had for me to follow or how He would like me to serve. I loved everything I was doing and I recall that I had great joy in doing what I could for God. But was I making my walk harder than it should have been? Wouldn’t I have matured my walk with Jesus sooner if I had stopped to be present with Him and be discipled properly?
My point is that we can easily and unknowingly make our walk with God way more complicated than it has to be with self-imposed rules, objectives, or agendas. Would you like a good reminder of what the life of a believer should really look like?
Micah 6:6-8 says, “With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 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 your God.”
“To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
1. Be just - God is calling us to be consistent, virtuous, honest, innocent, and righteous. The only way we can mature in those qualities and be pleasing to God is through the Holy Spirit actively working within us.
2. Love mercy - We are each in need of mercy. We know we are incapable of receiving the life-saving mercy we need without Jesus. Through Christ we can receive it and are also able to extend God’s grace to others.
3. Walk humbly with God - Walking is an active, not sedentary state. Our Heavenly Father asks us to humbly move with Him. To walk with someone means to keep step and stay at an even pace together. Our Father extends a personal fellowship with His followers to walk in step with Him.
Almost every evening I am able to take a walk with one of my daughters. It is one of the highlights of my day. Each walk carries a variety of emotions and stories that grow and deepen our bond with each other. Serious conversations and laughter accompany every step and I know our relationship would not be the same without these walks.
Just as we cannot grow closer to God unless we walk humbly with Him.
For some, the summer months are slow and easy, for others, the days are wild and busy. Whichever summer day you encounter, please make it a point to put God first. Grow your relationship with Jesus this summer through intentional time spent walking with Him. Here are 5 steps to make sure you know Jesus more clearly before summer is over.
1. Allow the Heavenly Father to enter your mind when you wake up and pray to Him as you start your day.
2. Allow the Holy Spirit to penetrate your thoughts and actions through each day and help you choose what activities you should spend your time on.
3. Speak of and to Jesus as you work or play. Allow prayers to flow from your heart and mind through the day as you converse with God in gratitude and appreciation of whatever enters your life.
4. Make time to be in God’s word at some point each day. You cannot know Him unless you spend time with Him. Scripture makes Him known.
5. Before you fall asleep each evening, speak humble prayers to God to close the evening with Him foremost on your mind.
Dear Heavenly Father, Your goodness is overwhelming, especially in light of our sinful nature. Thank You for Your mercy and love for us. May we grow closer to You daily as we intentionally and humbly walk in step with You. May we act justly, despite how we are treated because we are so close to You that You pour from us before self. May we accept and exhibit mercy, from You, ourselves, and others in ways that honor and please You. May we walk humbly by Your side in sweet fellowship and praise that pleases You and shines for others to see, drawing them ever nearer to You. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Thank you for listening to this podcast. If you find value in what you hear, and you would like more information on the topic we discussed today, I invite you to listen to previous episodes. You may find them on the terrihitt.com website. Click on podcasts and type in the topic or title you wish to hear in the search bar at the top of the page.
Have you listened to my second podcast, “Purposed Parent/Connected Child” yet? I suggest Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast episode 12, “Values in a World of Immorality” and it can be found on the Terri Hitt website. I hope you will listen to this new podcast, especially if you are raising children or influencing grandchildren. Please follow and share both of my podcasts with friends or family who would like to choose Christ over culture and be a parent (or be a grandparent) who connects with eternal purpose.
Remember, if we are not purposed in knowing Jesus ourselves and showing Him to the next generation, the world will direct them away from Christ. Live With Eternal Perspective helps us to find, trust, and follow Christ more intimately. Purposed Parent/Connected Child shares biblical, practical truths for parents and grandparents to influence and mentor Christ over culture.
I pray that what you hear on this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.