K.I.S.S.
April 22nd, 2007 at 11:57pm Manchild
K.I.S.S. is an acronym for a familiar phrase that I’ve slightly modified since my soon-to-be 3-year old daughter believes that “stupid” is a bad word. Whenever she hears comedian Steve Harvey say it while driving to work in the morning, her response is,
“Daddy, that’s not nice.”
As a sign of respect to her, I have chosen to acknowledge her request by refraining from using the word stupid to avoid offending her. My altered version of K.I.S.S. is,
“Keepin’ It So Simple”
Reading the book, Simple Faith, by Charles R. Swindoll, reminded me about how easy it is to please God. Mr. Swindoll offered the following commentary about the “four questions this Old Testament prophet asked God in Micah 6:6-7.
“Micah’s words state exactly what many, to this day, wonder about pleasing God. Teachers and preachers have made it so sacrificial…so complicated…so extremely difficult. To them, God is virtually impossible to please. Therefore, religion has become a series of long, drawn-out, deeply painful acts designed to appease this peeved Deity in the sky who takes delight in watching us squirm.”
What God requires from each of us is not as complicated, nor demanding, as our spiritual and political leaders have managed to make it as evidenced by this prophet’s response to verses 6 & 7.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”
–Micah 6:8 NASB
Thinking about the simplicity of each of these three tasks compelled me to ponder the possibility that pleasing God was never intended to be a series of unduly burdensome exercises comprised of legalistic, unrealistic rituals.
How difficult is is to:
1. Do justice?
2. Love kindness?
3. Walk humbly with God?
When time permits, compare Micah’s short list of simple tasks to the lengthy list of complicated tasks that one too many of us honestly believe we must accomplish on a daily basis to please God. What do you do on a daily basis to please God?
In closing, I hope many of you were encouraged to know that pleasing God is not complicated, demanding, nor difficult. No wonder Jesus Christ said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
Copyright 2007 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.
Popularity: 10% [?]
Entry Filed under: All About Love, Christianity, Inspiration, Leadership, Social Justice, Wise Words
2 Comments Add your own
1. Rebecca | April 27th, 2007 at 9:17 am
I like Charles Swindoll, used to listen to his messages on the way to work in the morning. I’ll have to check out that book. I think often times we do turn living for God into a long unattainable list of requirements. No wonder many Christians burn out and lose some of their passion & desire for the Lord.
2. Manchild | May 4th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Hello Rebecca,
Thank you for commenting. The profound, biblically sound messages Charles Swindoll shared via the Insight For Living radio ministry helped me to endure a time in my life when Adversity, Failure, and Setback haunted and taunted me daily.
God met me where I stood, accepted me, and loved me when I thought nobody, except my Mother, would care enough to do so.
When the church I was a member of turned its back to me, God gave me a safe place to rest and lay my head when I needed it the most.
May you always feel welcome, safe, and secure whenever you visit or just need a peaceful place to rest your weary soul.
Leave a Comment
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed