Justice, Mercy, & Humility - Weekly Devotion 10/26/15

Justice, Mercy, & Humility

from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager

He has shown you, O mortal, 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). 

To those connected to GEMS, to read or hear Micah 6:8 brings thoughts of club. The first time I recited the club aim was in second grade in the basement of my childhood church. When asked what the Lord required of us I joined another generation of girls and women who said, “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. Micah 6:8” And the “doer” part of me got super glued to a checklist. Act justly. Check. Love mercy. Check. Walk humbly with God. Check.

And in the reciting and trying to do what God required, I missed Christ. Instead of first asking myself, “What does this verse show me about God?” I got it backwards and made it about me. My lone question was, “What am I supposed to do?” At a tender age I got snagged on doing. Rules trumped the relationship God desired.

Ironically, this mirrors the warning Micah gave to Israel and Judah! Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? (Micah 6:7)

Then comes verse 8. Within the verse we know by heart is the message God wants our hearts to really hear! Religious activity detached from a humble heart that seeks to present an accurate reflection of God’s justice and mercy is really no religion at all. Jesus reiterated the warning, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former” (Matthew 23:23). More people getting it backwards!

Micah 6:8 is not the gospel, a checklist, or an entry fee to God. First it shows us Christ and then by His grace compels us to follow in His steps! Because Jesus brought justice through to victory, by His grace we act justly. Because Jesus loves to love us, by His grace we love God and people. Because Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death on a cross, by His grace we humbly obey our Savior and Lord!

What’s your story? In Micah Jesus is Justice, Mercy, & Humility (Micah 6:8).  How does His Story help you tell your story?

Get in the Book: Read the book of Micah.

Loving justice and mercy reflects God’s own character. Choosing humility acknowledges and displays His supremacy. — Mark Dever