ACT JUSTLY - LOVE MERCY - WALK HUMBLY
About 15 years ago I was seeking to know what God required from me. I understood what He did for me, but what was it he wanted me to do? I called a pastor and asked him. He pointed me to Micah 6:8 and this changed my life. Micah 6:8 clearly tells us how God wants us to act. For more on how to love in healthy ways, go to 1 Corinth 13. Here's my devotion on Micah 6:8
Micah 5:2-4; 6:6-8
In the book of Micah, chapter 5 and 6, God promises a ruler from Bethlehem; desires justice, kindness, walking humbly with God. This brings hope to despairing and disobedient Israel. When the people respond with their ideas on how to respond to the Lord, verse 8 reveals the three things the Lord requires of us:
1. ACT JUSTLY: This would have been understood by Micah’s audience as living with a sense of right
and wrong. In particular, the judicial courts had a responsibility to provide equity and protect the
innocent. Injustice was a problem in Israel at that time. Injustice is still a problem in our current times;
2. LOVE MERCY: contains the Hebrew word "hesed", which means “loyal love” or “loving-kindness.” Along with justice, Israel was to provide mercy. Both justice and mercy are foundational to God’s character (Psalm 89:14). God expected His people to show love to their fellow man
and to be loyal in their love toward Him, just as He had been loyal to them (Micah 2:8-9;3:10-11;6:12).
3. WALK HUMBLY: Walking humbly is a description of the heart’s attitude toward God. God’s people depend on Him rather than their own abilities (Micah 2:3). Instead of taking pride in what we bring to God, we humbly recognize that no amount of personal sacrifice can replace a heart committed to justice and love. The response of a godly heart is outward (do justice), inward (love mercy), and upward (walk humbly).
The message of Micah is so relevant to today. Religious rites, no matter how extravagant, can never
compensate for a lack of love (1 Corinthians 13:3). Compliance to rules is not as valuable in God’s eyes as a humble heart that simply does what is right.
QUESTIONS
How could you act justly, show mercy and be humble before God on a daily basis?
How do you "show mercy" in your every day life? Where could you show more mercy (or to who)? Which one of those actions is easiest for you and which is hardest? Why?
PRAYER
God of mercy, you have transformed us by your promises of deliverance time and time again. Teach us to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with you, God, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
