Micah 6:8
Thoughts from Pastor Stuart
Dive Deeper
“He has told you, mortal one, 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
Behind the Scenes
Micah was a prophet of God to the people in Judah. He lived in the midst of a generation that had fallen into idolatry and rebellion. The book of Micah is filled with God’s divine message calling His people to repentance and a return to holiness. But the people didn’t listen. As a consequence, God allowed the Assyrian captivity of Judah as a means of breaking their stubbornness and drawing them into repentance.
We read in this book that the people in Judah were practicing false religion, acting like they were holy and people of God but also living a life of idolatry and rebellion. Their lives were lukewarm at best, and their hearts were far from the Lord. Micah writes to warn them that God will not accept half-hearted false religion, that He wants their hearts.
Make it Real
It’s easy to read a book like Micah and feel like it only applies to “them”. But the message of Micah is relevant to us all. God’s will for our life will never consist of half-hearted outward acts of service while our hearts remain cold and untouched. He wants us to be more than just a “Christian” in name. He wants followers who are Christians through and through.
The people of Micah’s time weren’t all that different than us. They wanted to be God’s people without having to act like it. They wanted to “have their cake and eat it too”, so to speak. But this has always and will always equal rebellion with God.
Micah gave them three things that God wanted from them. And these three things still apply to us today:
- Do justice- God calls us to be a people of justice. Justice is a legal term that simply means restoring things to a righteous state. It is dedication to what is right, what is good, and what is holy. And it is the recognition that God is who determines what is right, good, and holy because all those things are based on His character and His character alone. They are not subjective or open to change because God does not change. They are eternally sure because our God is eternally sure. It’s not about our opinion, it’s about His truth.
- Love kindness: the word translated “kindness” here could also be translated “mercy”. It encompasses the idea of kindness, forgiveness, and love given even when it is not deserved. It is goodness that is extended without being merited or earned. As people of God, we are called to love others not based on what they can do for us but based on what Jesus already did for us. We love because He first loved us.
- Walk humbly with God: This phrase denotes an attitude of praise. It is this close communion with the God of the universe, understanding that we don’t deserve to draw near to Him, but we are honored and privileged to be welcomed to do so. It is a heart postured in obedience and worship to the God of the universe Who loves us more than we can comprehend. And when we walk closely with God, everything in our lives flows from that heart.
THIS is God’s will for you and me. He calls us to lean on His truths, love without restraint, and live a life close to Him. It’s that simple and that hard. But when we move our lives to fit into this simple recipe, we will find that the things of this world hold far less power over us, and our God guides us through every decision and choice we have to make. When we live a life of authentic worship, not falling into the trap of false religion, idolatry, and rebellion, that’s when our God is most pleased with us.
Crystal Garnett
ACF Digital Discipleship Team Lead
End in Prayer
Lord,
Thank You for even WANTING a close relationship with me. Thank You that through the sacrifice of Jesus, I can draw near to You! Thank You that in You I find every truth I need. Thank You that in you I find every strength I need. Please guide me in my decisions and choices. Help me to draw humbly close to You, looking for Your will in my life instead of my own.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen