What Am I To Do?

The age old question, asked by every believer, "What do you want me to do God?" The people in Micah's audience were asking the same thing. They had been warned of coming judgment and wanted to know how to win God's favor.

In Micah 6:6-7, the people suggest ways that they may please God - sacrifices, offerings, good works, etc, but in verse 8, Micah gives three things God is looking for. Three simple things? Not necessarily. God had made His wishes clear to the people of Israel and they are just as pertinent to us today!

He has showed you what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? Three things......

1) To act justly. The people in Micah's day were guilty of abusing the poor and comitting grave injustice toward the needy and God wanted it to stop. The word, just, defined as: conforming to a standard of correctness; righteous, describes God's character. And isn't that what we're suppose to be striving for? This should not have been new news to these people or to us either. Back in Ezekiel 18:27, God reminds the people then, But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life Would you consider yourself a just person; one who conforms to a standard of correctness - God's character of righteousness?

2) To love mercy. Mercy is defined as: compassionate, forgiving. Look, more characteristics of God! A little more challenging characteristics for us perhaps. Remember, I didn't say these were 3 easy steps! In a world of tough people, tough times, tough breaks and tough situations, we must do the right thing and show love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. Micah 7:18-19 are great verses that describe these characteristics in God - Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? (Israel) You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl (not toss or throw!) all our inquities into the depths of the sea.

3) To walk humbly with your God. Notice God didn't leave it at "walk humbly"? In a world of pride and self-sufficiency, we must learn to walk with God..not in front of Him or behind Him, but with Him. Humbly walking with God means doing so without arrogance or self-righteousness. Psalm 25:9, tells us what God will do - He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. Do we want to know what is just and right? Humbly walk with God. Do you want to learn His way of love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness? Humbly walk with God.

These three steps, not necessarily easy steps, are what God requires of us. They are not some great mystery only made known to the super-spiritual. They are not impossible requests from God. He is not waiting to see how often we will fail - He is wanting to see how often we will attempt. Progress, not perfection is God's motto!! Only when we start living according to God's way, not our own way, will we begin to affect our home, our society and our world!