Micah 6:8 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.

This is an enormously clarifying verse. We tend to get all worked up over “What does God want me to do?” He indeed has plans for each individual, and His plan for each individual fits in perfectly with His plan for each other individual, but we can’t grasp the complexity of all of that. It takes supercomputers even to model world weather patterns, and they are simple compared to the interaction of every human being on the planet. Only God can keep all of that straight, so we need to leave it in His hands. He has given every human being an “autopilot” of sorts, as has been shown by various studies. Children are born with an innate sense of justice, as well as with a surprising level of altruism. It takes a good bit to squash that, actually. That is to say, we don’t have to be told what it is to “do justice and love mercy.” We get tied in knots because we want excuses for not acting that way! However, it is the last line that is the clincher. Walking humbly with God includes, first of all, accepting Him as your God, that is having personal faith. As it points out in Hebrews 11:6, there’s no way we can please God without faith. However, that faith must be humble. It is remarkable how easily we fall into thinking we know better than God! Adam and Eve’s original sin was in thinking they could gain an advantage by disobeying God. That’s the opposite of humility. It is only when we are humble before Him that we can genuinely walk with Him, in fellowship. Amos 3:3 points out that it takes agreement to walk together. All we’ve got to do is agree with God!

This is a remarkably simple and clear Word that I need both to apply personally and to communicate effectively. I have never been one to push forward with great personal ambition, and I think I should be thankful for that. Some might say that has made me an “underachiever,” but such judgments are relative. I do feel I’ve had a far happier life than many! Recently the Lord has been speaking strongly to me about walking with Him, that is, in deepening fellowship, and I must not hold back from that. I don’t know what all He has planned for me, but I do know that walking with Him in it will be glorious. There are several people directly associated with me who feel real need of clear guidance on specific issues. I am not to be controlling in any way, but neither am I to draw back from speaking in love what the Lord speaks to me for them. I am to assure them that walking humbly with God is unquestionably the way to greatest satisfaction, joy, and yes, achievement.

Father, thank You indeed for this clear Word. Show me when and how I am to share it, and show me how to apply it more and more in my own life, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!