What God Wants From You (Micah 6:6-8)

The numbers in the bible are present in a definite pattern and reveal different meanings associated to them. For example the number 3 is used 467 times in the Bible. The Regular Occurrence of the Number Three in the Bible Points to God’s Sovereignty. It pictures completeness, though to a lesser degree than 7. For generations upon generations, humans have wondered about the purpose of life: Why are we here? What is God’s will for us? The question of “what God desires of us” is a great question to ask. Obviously there are 3 things that are the non-negotiable foundation of the Law of God; three things that we need to get right if we are to have any chance at all of building a society which serves everyone adequately and righteously.

What is it that God desires of us? Speaking on behalf of God, as prophets do, Micah responds: "He has showed 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” (Micah 6:8) It teaches on the issues of justice, mercy, and humility. While this simple yet profound summary does well to stand on its own, and is certainly worth contemplating and living by,

The three things God requires of us are:

1. ACT JUSTLY: God wants our undivided Mind.

We must be fair and honest in all our dealings with other people. Justice covers and transcends a host of negative precepts, such as prohibition of oppression, suppression of truth, falsehood and corruption. It calls for a sense of responsibility towards weaker members of society. It insists on the rights of others; it demands an instinct for social preservation. “Act justly” would have been understood by Micah’s audience as living with a sense of right and wrong. In particular, the judicial courts had a responsibility to provide equity and protect the innocent. The key to our life, we must walk upright; Bible says “You (God) desire truth in the inward parts” (Psalms 51:6) we must settle it deep in our hearts to be a people of integrity, and be on guard in the battle to “do justly.” In other words to give God His due, God is deserving of our heart, body, soul, and spirit; our wisdom, understanding, judgment. Because He created us in His own image, God rightly and justly deserves all of our worship and devotion. "The 'good' that [God] requires is the doing of His will." Justice, which is to be exercised towards God and men, is the real evidence of true religion. Each day, we’ll be presented with opportunities that tempt us to compromise our character, but Make every decision based on what’s right; not on what’s easy.

2. LOVE MERCY: God wants our unreserved love.

Both justice and mercy are foundational to God’s character (Psalm 89:14) “Love mercy” contains the Hebrew word hesed, which means “loyal love” or “loving-kindness.”This is to do with relationship, with covenant love for one another. It means faithfulness to God and His people, reaching out to those in need and showing love and care for them. We must show genuine compassion and mercy (kindness) to those in need, desire to do good to others. Apostle Paul said “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these, put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity”. (Colossians 3:13-14). Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."(Mathew 5:7) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

3. WALK HUMBLY: God wants our unconditional Obedience

“Walk humbly” is a description of the heart’s attitude toward God. God’s people depend on Him rather than their own abilities. Of course, that covenant relationship with your fellow men and women, that desire to live and act justly, is going to be pretty well impossible if your relationship with God isn’t sorted out. God is our Creator: he knows best how we should operate. If we want to get the very best out of life, out of the world in which he has placed us, then we need to follow his instructions. We must walk humble daily before Him in godly fear and reverence for His will, to walk in constant prayer and watchfulness. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (1 Pet. 5:5.) When Isaiah saw a vision of God he said, "Woe is me." When Daniel saw a vision of God he said, "My beauty was turned into corruption. No man has had an encounter with God and come from it with a feeling of pride and greatness... We must first acknowledge our sins and then be willing to submit to God's mercy. It is only through a humbling of ourselves that we will be allowed to walk with God. The response of a godly heart is outward (do justice), inward (love mercy), and upward (walk humbly).

Humility is . . .

knowing what I am,

acknowledging that God made me that way,

and giving Him glory for it.