"He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Don't you just hate it when someone starts to tell you a story, and it goes on and on and on and ON. Don't you just want to say: "hey, just give me the Reader's Digest abridged version, cut to the chase!" What's the bottom line?
We can be like that with the Word of God. We read and study and read and study, but sometimes we just wish there was a concise summary for us to make things a little easier. If only it were that simple. There are a few passages that meet that need, such as the Greatest Commandment, the verses in Ecclesiastes, and this verse from Micah, but we still need the "amplified" Word to teach and guide us. In this verse, the Lord has given us three seemingly simple steps, but upon reflection, they are more difficult then they appear.
The verse states that God has SHOWN us what is good. He gave a picture. In the preceding verses Israel asked the Lord what it would take to please Him. And He showed them what is GOOD in His sight, so good that He REQUIRES it in our lives. First, God said "to act justly . . . " Justly is defined as "honestly and fairly". The world does not value honesty and fairness. We live in a dog-eat-dog world where anything goes to get you where you want to go. Anytime anyone acts honestly and fairly in the world's arena, they're ridiculed, shamed, they lose, so why bother. We serve a God who is just, and we expect Him to treat us honestly and fairly. In fact, we boast about our "just God." If we expect it of Him, who are we to think we cannot do likewise.
". . . to love mercy . . . " What a nice phrase. I love mercy, don't you? "To love" is defined as "to have a profound tenderness for" something or someone. "Mercy" defined is "compassion for an offender or enemy." So, to love mercy means "to have profoundly tender compassion for an offender or enemy." Oucheeeeeeeee!!!! That puts a spin on things we might not want to do. It's hard enough being merciful to someone we like, but to do that to someone who has hurt me, who is an enemy, well, that's asking a bit much, don'tcha think? But God says "this is good, I require it of you."
And lastly, we are ". . . to walk humbly with our God." Humbly, not proud or arrogant. Well, that's easy, I can do that. I'm not proud or arrogant. Easy enough. But Saints, if we refuse to engage in justice and mercy, we cannot possibly walk humbly with God. When we refuse to be obedient to what God requires, we are saying that it's beneath us. We're too proud to stoop to anything so low. "I'll never show mercy to them after what they've done to me; they deserve everything they get!" "oh, it's only a couple of pennies, who's going to miss them?" Honesty. "It's not fair you let them in line ahead of you. I was here first." Oh well, life's not fair. There is absolutely no way we can walk without pride or arrogance unless we walk in obedience to EVERYTHING. And in the order laid down by God.
Such a seemingly simple verse, but oh, the difficulty in compliance. No wonder people don't want to study the Scriptures. It calls us to accountability and obedience, things the "old man nature" rails against. But with God, ALL things are possible, Saints.
How are you doing with the requirements of God?
"Father God, forgive me. I am weak and I fail so often. The more I study the less I know. Impress on me your requirements, Father, and give me a willing spirit to be fully obedient. My heart desires to do your will in all things, but my flesh is so weak. Strengthen me with your Holy Spirit, that I might walk in all Your ways, bringing glory and honor to Your Name. I ask this in Jesus. Amen."
Supporting Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
1 Kings 2:3
Prov 16:5,7,18-19
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Matt 18:21-35
Romans 2:6
James 2:13
Jude 1:22
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