What Kind of Behavior Does Jesus Really Expect?

As I was waking up this morning my mind was wondering how I could be more clear about what Jesus’ purpose truly was.  

Specifically! 

And my mind thought of the passage in Micah, where God tells his misguided creatures what he truly wants from them. 

I inadvertently pulled up The Message (a paraphrase, not an interpretation) on my screen. The Message is a neat way to hear the original words in a new way. So I decided to use it; because it leave absolutely no doubt in our minds what Jesus came to relate to the people.    

8 But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously. 9 Attention! God calls out to the city! If you know what's good for you, you'll listen. So listen, all of you! This is serious business. 10 "Do you expect me to overlook obscene wealth you've piled up by cheating and fraud? 11 Do you think I'll tolerate shady deals and shifty scheming? 12 I'm tired of the violent rich bullying their way with bluffs and lies.(Micah 6  The Message)

I don’t know about you!  But I know exactly what kind of behavior God is asking from us.  

As Micah states:  It's quite simple…    

No hidden details left to our imaginations!  Be fair!  Be compassionate and loyal!  Don’t take yourself too seriously! 

But!  But take God very seriously! 

Pay attention to God!

The people, that Micah was addressing, did not take his message seriously. They did not listen!  They did not pay attention!  Just like they hadn’t listened, or pay attention, since God saved them from Egyptian slavery.

So God came to earth in Jesus’ skin to reiterate — emphasize — his major points of discussion.   Or, as we  say today:  to “reboot” the message.  Cover all the details of what it truly means to be a child of God.  A child of God living in a world that is all to un-God-like.