Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, 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. Micah 6:8 (NIV)
As a child, I would often wonder what we were supposed to do in life since we could neither earn nor lose the grace that God gives us through Jesus. Does that mean that you can do anything you want with impunity?
This passage speaks directly to what God expects of us, having shown us what truly good looks like through Jesus. Just as the passage says, Jesus called us as disciples to follow him and continue his ministry. Help the poor, tend the sick, and visit the imprisoned. As we do for the least of these, so have we done for God. We do things not to earn His forgiveness or gratitude but as a measure of thanks for the gift of eternal life.
In addition to simply showing thanks, I believe walking with God and acting justly as we are called to do in this passage is how we have and show God’s presence to the world. Unbelievers may simply see people helping people, but we know that God uses us to light the world as His Holy Spirit moves in us.
The next time you find yourself wondering what to do next, simplify your thoughts like this passage. Act justly and love mercy…and you will be on the right path.
Questions for Reflection:
- When you think that there’s nothing that you (or anyone else) can do to earn or lose God’s grace, what emotions does that evoke?
- Justice and mercy, though we sometimes don’t recognize it, mean different things to different people. What do they mean for you?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of Your grace. That we can do nothing to earn it or lose it is a wonderful thing. Help us to accept and remember that truth goes for those who disagree with us in the world. Your love and grace are big enough to transcend differences. Help us to remember that. Amen.
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