I believe that Micah 6:8 is one of the clearest verses in the Bible concerning exactly what God expects of us. All we are required to do, depending on the translation you read, is to act justly, love mercy and humbly walk with God. It’s simple, right? However, I don’t believe this is actually a question of simplicity but rather a question of choice. In taking a closer look at this verse, I want to approach it in the opposite order, starting with our relationship with God, because I believe this is key to identifying our choices.
Beginning with the choice to walk humbly with God, we ask ourselves: Are we willing to acknowledge God in our daily walk? While we have the ability to choose to be independent, walking humbly with God is about choosing a life of dependency on God. This is counterculture to a society that often encourages us to be self-sufficient — to depend on no one and trust nobody. Will we choose to trust and follow God?
If we choose to follow God, then we, too, will love and care about what God loves and cares about. We are called to embody what it means to love, truly and genuinely. This is a love that is deep and abundant, that expresses itself in kindness, mercy and compassion. It is both a way of being and doing — a way of living love that is expressed in everyday encounters. Are we ready to live out this kind of faithful love?
Now that we have chosen to be in relationship with and walk with God, and to embrace this faithful love, we are left with a choice to do justice. This is about action. It is a call to do what is just and right. This action is a result of following God and embracing faithful love. We are called to care for all that God has made, such as the air, land, water, plants, animals and people. Doing justice means living in right relationships with our ourselves, our neighbors near and far, all of creation, and with God. Are we ready to stand up for justice?
Truth be told, making these choices is often hindered by our human tendency of inertia, and we often become discouraged by the overwhelming injustices in today’s world. However, if we take the first step of choosing to trust and depend on God, then God will show us what faithful love looks like, day by day, and provide us with the strength to do justice, one small action at a time.
Marisa Smucker
Executive Director