If you’ve been a believer for a while, you’ve no doubt heard or read Micah 6:8. It is indeed beautiful prose and songs have been based on it.
I’ve been reading it over and over, and playing songs based on it. It has taken hold of me and I see much more in it than I had previously.
It is truly one of the most grand verses in the Bible and worth another look, or many more for that matter. In the troubled times we live, Micah 6:8 says so much. Of course, God’s word is always relevant.
Micah 6:8 NKJV
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah tells you that God has shown you what is good and what He requires of you:
- To do justly
- To love mercy
- To walk humbly with your God
To do justly
God requires us to do justly. We can all agree this is best and we will do so. All of us will admit, though, that we do not always do justly. We have grace—we have Christ’s righteousness. Out of mercy God provided grace.
When we fail to do justly to others we have an obligation to correct what we’ve done.
To love mercy
When we fail, we all love to receive mercy. Who wouldn’t love mercy?
When we sin, Christ’s righteousness covers us through grace. That grace was provided by God’s mercy.
This would seem to be the easiest of the three. But is it?
People fail us all the time. Some harm us unintentionally and a few with great intention. Our love of mercy is not to be only when mercy is provided to us, but also when we provide it to others.
In fact, our only active role in mercy is in providing it others. We can only passively receive it—yes we can ask for it, but we cannot force others to provide it to us.
Our love of mercy must very much include providing mercy to others. Love to show mercy to others! What a world we would live in with so much mercy being dispensed! Every time someone cuts you off while driving, show mercy! Every time someone at work takes credit and doesn’t provide it to you, show mercy! Love to show mercy and find every opportunity to provide it! Love it!
Matthew 5:7 NKJV reads, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV reads,
14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Always mercy?
Inevitably we must concede that providing mercy under certain circumstances is inappropriate.
The intent of this writing is to address injustices where we as individuals are on the receiving end of injustice and have the wisdom to dispense mercy appropriately.
Mercy comes in the forms of absolvance and forgiveness.
Absolvance is best left for those with a contrite hearts. Even then, under the most horrendous of injustices, justice may very well need to be served.
Forgiveness should always be provided.
Providing forgiveness to those without contrite hearts may be difficult and take time, but it is effort well spent—and required.
To walk humbly with your God
Recognizing our inability to be completely just and the need for mercy, as well as God’s grace provisioned to us in the form of Christ’s righteousness, we have no other course but to be humble before Him.
And to walk with Him. (Walking with God).
Revision History
1.00 – November 21, 2018
1.01 – September 2, 2019
Walking with God in The Way 