We have been studying the prophet Micah in the Tuesday Bible Study for a few weeks. So to have Micah come up in the Sunday reading further highlighted the impact of this short book.
Truly inspired by the study of Micah and last Sunday’s sermon and Service 8-19-24, I have been mulling it over since and here I am sharing my thoughts because that is how I learn and integrate.
Don suggested that as Christians, the least we can do is be good! My parents told us kids to “be a good boy and girl.” We told our kids to “be good girls.” Now we tell our dog to “be a good dog!” But what we mostly mean is “don’t get into trouble!” Right?
So, what does it mean to “be good” as Christians?
We all know we should generally behave well, and not get into trouble. But, more than staying out of trouble, the scripture doesn’t mince words.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. ~Philippians 1:27.
And, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples. ~John 13:34-35
As Don said in the sermon this morning, God gives us a clue what being a “good Christian” really might look like so we can aim our sights on something worthy of His Amazing Love.
A big clue is found in Micah 6:8, the Old Testament reading for the day:
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 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.
Pretty straight forward. For God to “require” it, means it is necessary! Not an option, Don told us. In Micah 6:11-12, the scriptures shows God is pretty fed up with Israel:
Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales,
with a bag of false weights?
Your rich people are violent;
your inhabitants are liars
and their tongues speak deceitfully.
Israel was not grateful for all God had done, and they were not “good.” Hence his exhortation through the prophet Micah.
This is reminiscent of the message of a couple of other scriptures where God lays out what is really important to Him:
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
Jeremiah 7:5-7
If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever.
God is Love. God is good. Love is good. Our behavior hints at who God is…or not!
If you are like me, you are thinking about how far you have to go yet. And why Micah 6:8 is so important. I need to put my energy into what God wants most from me, for me.
I had to unpack what God requires.
First of all, all 3 of these requirements are verbs, action verbs! ACT, LOVE, WALK.
They are not wishes, good ideas or even intentions. But ACTION! I always find action scary.
I would much rather read about it or talk about it than do it.
What does it mean to “ACT Justly?”
In a word: FAIR
Justly: adverb. Justifiably, with reason, with good reason, legitimately, rightly, rightfully, properly, deservedly, by rights. To ACT fairly, equitably, even-handedly, impartially, without bias, objectively, without prejudice, without fear or favor; by the book, in accordance with the rules.
I have long considered my aim as a Christian is to be “to fairly represent Christ.” Fairly, is as good as I think I can ever get to being Christlike in any manner. But I hope sometimes at least, I can be a hint of the Real McCoy.
Micah 6:8 backs this up… Sounds like we have to leave our prejudices, judgements and pre-conceived notions behind.
Oops.
If I want to be a fair representation of Christ, I better be first of all, fair.
John Lewis was an advocate for acting justly. Instead of staying out of trouble, if we want to talk about being “good,” the only trouble we should get into, he famously said, is “Good Trouble!” Trouble that stirs others to act justly. Trouble that helps right wrongs. Trouble that makes others uncomfortable for all the right reasons. Trouble that brings positive change, even at a cost to our own safety or popularity. So many of the profits and saints were trouble makers! This takes so much courage and trust. So much…
How about Loving Mercy?
Mercy: noun. (plural mercies) Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. An event that prevents something unpleasant or provides relief from suffering. Mercy can be performed out of a desire to relieve suffering; motivated by compassion. Forgiveness is an act of mercy.
Compassion and Forgiveness: Easy to sign up for, hard to live up to. If we can honestly say we even want to “love mercy,” we are half way there.
But loving Mercy is an action verb. How do we LOVE Mercy? By showing it? Often. To many others. To ourselves. Even at some expense. Loving Mercy is a whole other level of “good.” By being committed to it, cherishing it, making it a priority, and by all means following the examples of Christ at God’s leading.
The parables are all about Jesus showing God’s compassion for the sick, the poor, marginalized and also His disciples, never mind his compassion for all of us through his suffering, pain and death.
Walk Humbly with your God.
Humbly: adverb. Act in a way that shows or suggests a modest estimate of one’s value or importance. Unpretentiously.
Aware of our relative lowly position before the Creator of the Universe, to “walk” is to actively, mindfully live according to principle: To behave or “be good” is a good start but Christ called us higher – to love as He loves, to set an example, to put aside petty differences and see each other as Children of God.
We are to walk in freedom, walk in the spirit, walk in obedience, walk in love, walk in integrity, walk in the light, walk humbly. (Ps. 119:45, Gal. 5:25, Deut. 8:6, Eph. 5:2, Prov. 10:9,1 John 1:7, Micah 6:8)
The Bible again takes an everyday part of life and makes it about God. God is down to earth – right where we are, inviting us to walk with Him.
In The Celtic Way, a course in Celtic spirituality taught by Mark Scheneman from the Stevenson School for Ministry in the Diocese Central PA, this week Mark mentioned Micah 6:8 and walking humbly with our God. Father Mark said that for the Celts, to “walk” was about relationship. “Walking” implied doing something “together.” Walking with Christ is a means of deepening that relationship when we walk together. In the Celtic spirituality, we have many guides who have walked before us, he taught.
As the Celts do, we also commemorate those who have walked before us and lead the way – through their obedience and prayer. We read about them in the Bible, read their books and writings, and hymns, celebrate them in the daily liturgical calendar, honor them on All Saints Day, and thank God for those special role models in our own families and circles. We are not alone on the journey!
I find that to do anything with others takes humility but it is also a blessing. So it is with walking together on our spiritual journey — over time, over space, over obstacles — always toward God. Sometimes only with great effort is any movement made. Humility again. UGH.
I am thinking of the significance of Pilgrimage. On a pilgrimage, people take on a difficult journey together, seeking greater connection, often to God, to community of other seekers, to history, and to the earth. It can be a sign of devotion, sacrifice, obedience. For me, it is as much curiosity. What is there? Will I experience God differently? Connect to history? Many go to Israel, as have I, which was amazing. Now I am setting my sights once again, on Iona or Lindisfarne in Scotland. I do wonder, however, if I am missing where the essence of pilgrimage fits into my every day experience of God and community?
For some reason, possibly obvious to all but myself, Micah 6:8 made a big impression on me. I am so appreciative that Don highlighted this on Sunday. I am challenged greatly by this verse. God is likely pleased with that.
Don mused about humility with this embarrassing trifecta of truth: God did not create us to advise Him. He did not create us to coerce Him (i.e. threaten to… or not to…) And, God did not create us to manipulate Him. (i.e. cleverly try to persuade Him.) 😀 Darn.
We cannot out-maneuver God! I guess you could say these are things we try when we don’t want to obey or we don’t trust, or we don’t think we can live up to our calling. Amen?
I know I can’t live up to the charge to “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly before God,” but I also know…
“I am but one, I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. What I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do. Lord, what will you have me do?” ~Motto, The Order of the Daughters of the King®
Possibly, possibly, I can fairly represent Christ — with a lot of help from my friends.
*******
True to Don’s blessed shepherding tendencies, he has printed up some reminder cards for us with this important directive. Where is the best place to put it as a reminder?
Try one or all 3 of these places:
Your Fridge
The Bathroom Mirror
The Dash of your car.
Mine is on the fridge. Duh.
Ask Don for a reminder card if you missed it.
~Jessie