Micah 6:8 "He has told you lot, O human being, what is good; and what does the Lord crave of you simply to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

When we read this passage, what we read is a question from the Prophet Micah. The question he asks is, "what does the Lord require of you lot?" Often times we think the response to this question is an external sacrifice. People always overvalue the worth of a sacrifice, with the thought that the external offering is pleasing to God and could satisfy for sin. A sacrifice without an internal modify and action is of no use. To empathise the text, let us read a few more verses, from Micah six:6-8.

"With what shall I come up before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come earlier him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I requite my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my trunk for the sin of my soul?" He has told y'all, O man, what is expert; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Practise you ever find yourself in such a situation where you come before the Lord with lots of sacrifices? What I hateful by cede is; y'all brand sure y'all go to Church building every Lord's day as a token for your Christianity. Do you find yourself doing all of these religious acts thinking it is pleasing to God? For example, you bring tithes and offering by giving coin to the church and other not profit organisations, you brand certain yous come to church every Dominicus. Practise you think by doing all of these "Christian" religious activities you tin can please God? What the scripture teaches us is that these activities on its ain are of no value if it is not a result of 'justice', 'kindness', 'mercy' and walking in 'humbleness' before the Lord.

In fact, Jesus Himself addressed this in Matthew 23:23 saying "Woe to you lot, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the police: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you lot ought to accept done, without neglecting the others."

Likewise friends, do you do all of these outward acts but have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faithfulness?

According to Micah 6:8, let us examine how we can do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God?

Firstly, we are to, 'practise justice'! To 'do justice' requires action from your part. No just talking, merely doing. Merely talking virtually justice may brand yous announced as though y'all are caring about justice but it does not do anything to ease the hurting of those who are suffering. Biblical justice never stands lonely from the actions of dear and mercy. The word justice can too be read as 'judgment', or 'to do judgment'. Again right judgment is chiefly all acts of equity. This is why Jesus says in John seven:24 "Do not estimate past appearances, but judge with right judgment."

Secondly, to love kindness uses the Hebrew word 'hesed'. This means "loyal love" or "loving-kindness". Not just was Israel to testify justice but information technology was to provide mercy and kindness. In fact, both of these attributes are foundational to God'due south graphic symbol. Psalm 89:xiv says "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast dear and faithfulness go earlier your throne;" Nosotros as children of God are to display His characteristics and love one another, in a loyal love.

Finally, we are to walk humbly with our God. This is, in fact, a clarification of our hearts attitude toward God. Nosotros frequently depend on our ain abilities, instead, we are to depend on God completely. Rather than taking pride in what we bring to God, nosotros are to humbly recognise that no amount of personal sacrifice tin can supersede a heart committed to justice and dearest.

The response of a Godly centre is outward, in other words "to practise justice"; it is likewise inward – "to love mercy"; and finally it is upward which is to walk humbly with your God.

This is the aforementioned bulletin for you and for me. Religious acts no matter how extravagant it is on the outside can never recoup for a lack of love. 1 Corinthians 13:3 says "If I give all I accept, and if I deliver up my torso to be burned, but take not love, I gain null."

External actions that seem as though you are doing what is correct is not plenty. In God's optics, a humble center is one that simply does what is right.

In closing, I encourage you to look at your heart condition. Examine and see if any outward activity is a result of a true change from within and not just an outwardly deed.

Equally God'south children go along to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.

God Anoint.

Sources

Alexander Maclaren (Exposition of Holy Scripture)
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
https://www.gotquestions.org/practice-justly-love-mercy-walk-humbly.html