Micah 6:8 (NKJV) 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
In the chapters and verses leading up to the verse above, Micah was issuing a long list of prophecies and warnings to Israel for their unfaithfulness to God.
He listed their transgressions. He spoke firmly to them as a means of chastising them and humbling them.
And then, in verses 6:1 through 6:7, he engaged in a series of rhetorical questions, as though speaking for the people of Israel.
The summation of the questions he asked revolved around how the Israelites could redeem themselves before God and make up for their unfaithfulness.
In those verses there were many things listed that might seem to make sense to someone looking at this from a natural or a carnal point of view.
Again, we need to remember that Micah knew the answer(s) to his rhetorical questions. But he wanted to spell this out so the Israelites could easily understand it and be convicted in their hearts.
And then, in verse 8, he laid it all out for them to see the truth about what was really required of them.
Let’s paraphrase it.
He said, People of Israel, He (God) has shown you what is right and what is good.
But let me remind you what the Lord requires of you!
He requires that you live justly (rightly, properly, righteously), doing what you know is right and true.
He wants you to love mercy (lovingkindness, compassion, grace, forgiveness), and walk in such things each day.
And, finally, walk humbly before your God.
You see, God just wanted them to walk these things out in a sincere way that showed that they did so because it was what was in their hearts, wanting to please Him, not because they rigidly tried to follow a set of rules simply by rote.
And the same applies to you and me. God wants our whole hearts. He wants us to live for Him because it’s what is in our hearts; something that we desire because we love Him, not simply because we feel guilty if we don’t do it.
You may ask, “how can I get there? How can I reach that point in my relationship and my walk with God?”.
And to that we simply answer with the words of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV) 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443
401-439-3780
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