What is Required?

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 NIV)


Have you ever applied for college or for a job? Wait, let's broaden that a little. Have you ever had to fill out a myriad of paperwork (school, doctor, dentist, housing, assistance, etc.)? Forms that require you to dig deep into your memory bank or into the bottom of your purse trying to correctly fill in all the blanks. Long, detail oriented forms that require you to fill out information about yourself or a family member in minute detail. Do you have a good picture of what I am imagining?

Depending on the circumstance, the information required to fill out these forms can be daunting. Every piece of paper on the clipboard requiring more and more from you in order for you to obtain the services you seek.

Does the Lord require pages of detailed information from you whenever you need Him?  Absolutely not! You not only get to avoid paperwork, but also long lines, germ-filled waiting rooms and unfriendly clerks! You have the ability to go right to the One you desire without delay!

What does he require from you in return? Not much, really. We are simply required to believe in Him. We are to love the Lord with all our heart, mind and strength. Most of us are familiar with the verses containing Jesus' teaching in the New Testament, but there is another nugget of wisdom from the Old Testament in the book of Micah.  We are to act justly, which means in an honest and fair manner. He also asks us to love mercy. Mercy being an act of kindness, showing compassion or simply being a blessing to someone. Finally God asks us to walk with humbly with him, being courteous and respectful and not arrogant or proud.

Wouldn't the world be a much different place if we all followed the simple steps outlined in Micah 6? I am thankful that He loves me regardless of how stumbling my walk with Him may be. I challenge you to keep this verse in the forefront of you mind this week as you go about your days. Let me know if it changes your interactions with the world. How brightly can we shine the light of Jesus this week?

In His Peace -