[God] has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? ~Micah 6:8
Micah is among my favorite prophets. His name means “who is like God” or “gift from God.” Micah strove to make the people see the error of their ways, specifically the fact that they had strayed from following God. He speaks multiple times to the people relaying the message from God that they are part of a covenant to follow the law of Moses which would set them apart as people who receive God’s favor.
During Micah’s time, the God’s people had escaped the injustices they were experiencing in Egypt and has been conquered by the Assyrian empire. He was literally watching the people and nation that he loved fall to pieces at the hands of others. As a prophet, Micah has heard from God that part of the reason things are so bad, is that the people have forgotten what makes them people of God. And because they have broken their side of the covenant, God has stepped away to leave them to their own devices. Here, in what is probably the most remembered part of Micah’s preaching, Micah reminds the people of Israel what God has asked of them: “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.”
Since Jesus has fulfilled the law, God does not step away when we fall short of who God has created and called us to be. However, the gap between us and God does get wider and it can be more difficult for us to hear God’s voice and feel God’s presence. Although I frequently use Jesus’s words to sum up what God has asked of us (love God, love our neighbors, and make disciples), Micah’s words seem to be even more important to me today.
Do Justice- simply put means having a concern for peace and a genuine respect for people. As I talked about in last week’s entry (“If You’ve Said… Then…”), part of that is standing up for others and ensuring they have the ability to live fully into who God has called them to be.
Love Kindness- this means more than just saying, “if only everyone was just nice to each other.” It means actually being nice to people! It means going out of your way to make someone’s day brighter- let them cut you in line, grab their cart and walk it back to the cart corral, let them make that left turn in front of you, share that smile. It’s the little stuff that display’s kindness.
Walk Humbly with God- we don’t have all the answers to life and we don’t have all the answers as to God is and how God works in the world around us. We are not better than others. We are all children of God with unique gifts designed to help build up the kingdom when we respond to God’s grace.
This call from Micah to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God” is just another way to live our love of God and love of neighbor.
Comment your thoughts below.
Blessings friends,
Pastor Nicole