Building a Life Path upon Micah 6:8

By Steve and Kristyne McDaniel

He has shown thee, oh man, what is good. What does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.

This quote is from the Old Testament, but is completely applicable to us today. Many Christian teachers in recent years are forgetting that being a Christian is something you DO, not something you talk about. The three simple directives that were pointed out in Micah 6:8 are wonderful goals to wrap our brains around and work towards. In fact, if we do these three things we are well on our way to becoming the individuals that Christ would have us be.

Do Justly

This means each of us should do what is the right thing to do. It is not about seeking justice, but is instead a directive to us to comport ourselves in a way that cannot be construed by others as unjust.

Love Mercy

When we love mercy, we give others an opportunity to become more than they are today. It is about second chances and forgiveness. We don't seek justice for ourselves with others, but when we are able we instead behave towards others with mercy. Mercy is not given to those who deserve it. Mercy is for those who do NOT deserve it.

Walk Humbly

Living in humility is difficult in a culture where we are told we must broadcast our own successes to get ahead in life. So much attention is placed on entertainers and politicians that we can sometimes think a self-centered existence is normal. In fact, Jesus taught that we should not let our left hand know what the right hand is doing when we give. This is a lesson in humility that all of us can learn.