He has told you, O man, 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
In these days of unrest, I keep coming back to this verse in Micah. We are all angry and frustrated over the effects of COVID, but also the injustices we’ve witnessed over the last week. How different things would be if we each would pattern our lives around this verse. Some of us are questioning how to speak and respond to the tragic events taking place. I encourage you to search the Scriptures as they are sufficient for all godliness.
In Micah 6:8, the first observation is that there is a right way and a wrong way. The Lord has shown us the right way, what is good. He desires that we follow the right way. As we study God’s Word, we learn more and more the way of life He has called us to.
Micah defines what is good as doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God. The fact is that we are to do what is right, cherish kindness toward others as we walk in a right relationship with God. God has shown us what is right in the Word of God. Psalm 19:8 says, “The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.” God’s rules for life are best for all of us. And we can find answers we seek in His Word.
God has also demonstrated the kindness and mercy we are to show toward others through the life of Jesus. His mercy is perfect. The word mercy literally means “withholding what someone deserves for wrongdoing.” In our sin we deserve punishment and death as we offend a Holy God. Yet Jesus came and died in our place, receiving the punishment for our sin that we deserved. He did this so that we would be made right with him in faith and escape the punishment and death. What mercy! We should give others the kindness Jesus has given us.