How Should We Then Live
Reading: Micah 6:8
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 your God.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Romans 12:9-21
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Devotional: The question Francis Schaeffer posed -- How should we then live? -- is not merely a philosophical one. It is deeply personal and profoundly practical. A gospel that is only believed in the mind but never lived in the body has lost its power. The fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5 is not a checklist of achievements -- it is the natural overflow of a life surrendered to God. When the Spirit of God dwells within us, honor becomes less of an effort and more of an expression. We honor our parents because we love God. We honor those in authority because we trust God's sovereignty. We honor those who serve because we see the image of God in them. We honor one another because we have been honored beyond measure by the One who gave His life for us. This is not a cultural trend. It is a biblical mandate. It is the forgotten virtue that the church is called to reclaim -- not just in a single sermon, but in every ordinary day of an extraordinary life.
Personal Reflection: If someone followed you through an average day this week, would they observe a life marked by honor -- in your words, your tone, your choices, and your treatment of others?
Practical Application: Choose one relationship -- a spouse, a child, a coworker, a neighbor -- and commit for the next seven days to intentionally speak and act in ways that honor them. At the end of the week, reflect on what changed -- in them, and in you.
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 your God.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Romans 12:9-21
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Devotional: The question Francis Schaeffer posed -- How should we then live? -- is not merely a philosophical one. It is deeply personal and profoundly practical. A gospel that is only believed in the mind but never lived in the body has lost its power. The fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5 is not a checklist of achievements -- it is the natural overflow of a life surrendered to God. When the Spirit of God dwells within us, honor becomes less of an effort and more of an expression. We honor our parents because we love God. We honor those in authority because we trust God's sovereignty. We honor those who serve because we see the image of God in them. We honor one another because we have been honored beyond measure by the One who gave His life for us. This is not a cultural trend. It is a biblical mandate. It is the forgotten virtue that the church is called to reclaim -- not just in a single sermon, but in every ordinary day of an extraordinary life.
Personal Reflection: If someone followed you through an average day this week, would they observe a life marked by honor -- in your words, your tone, your choices, and your treatment of others?
Practical Application: Choose one relationship -- a spouse, a child, a coworker, a neighbor -- and commit for the next seven days to intentionally speak and act in ways that honor them. At the end of the week, reflect on what changed -- in them, and in you.
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