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.

God is good at repeating Himself. Similar things are stated again and again in different ways throughout the Bible, because God wants to use every means to get His point across. This verse is a prime example of that. God’s demands aren’t complicated, until we make them so. This breaks it down into three areas: actions, attitude, and relationship. We are to do justice, that is, what is right toward those around us. In Romans 13:10 Paul wrapped it up as, “Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” We need assorted laws because we all have moments of not being very loving, but accurate love indeed lives justly. Then, we are to love mercy. This is an attitude. As it says in James 2:13, mercy triumphs over judgment. We can do all the right things, but if our attitude isn’t right, it will be meaningless. Paul again expounded on this famously in 1 Corinthians 13, expressing our necessary heart attitude as love. Other religions and philosophies have hints of these two points, but it is the third that is unique to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: God wants to be in relationship with us. Humility on our part is a necessary requirement, but God wants us to walk with Him. As a matter of fact, He wants it so much that He gave His Son to make it possible. That is a staggering truth, one that blows our minds the more we think about it. We have difficulty wrapping our minds around the idea that the Creator of the universe wants a personal relationship with each of us. However, when that truth really does penetrate, it is totally overwhelming, and makes no sacrifice too great, if we can walk in its fullness.

I have had the privilege of being around numbers of people who have grasped this truth and were committed to relationship with God. They have run the gamut from big name people to unknowns, but they have shared characteristics that identify them in my memory. First of all is settled peace. Some have gone through terrible circumstances, but they have made it through in relationship to their God, with peace that indeed surpasses human understanding. (Philippians 4:7) Second, they have “smelled” like Jesus, that is, they have expressed His character. Just as a couple who have been in a good marriage a long time become increasingly like each other, the longer we are in right relationship with God, the more we express Him in our daily living. Paul called it Christ in us. (Colossians 1:27) That is how I want to be, and having known some concrete examples is very helpful. As a pastor, I want to draw every member of the flock – and actually, everyone I know – into full, right relationship with God. I cannot possibly do it in my own wisdom and strength, but God can use me to that end, so I need to focus on being sensitive and responsive to Him to that He can do it through me, for His glory.

Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of being Your child, not just by creation but by adoption as well. (1 John 3:1) May I be increasingly effective in inviting others into that relationship with You, for a massive harvest in Your family, Your kingdom, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!