Day 275

What the Lord Requires

Read: Micah 5-7

Today’s Scripture includes two famous passages. The first predicts that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. It was a passage which the Jewish Bible scholars of Jesus’ day knew so well that they could tell the wise men where to find the newborn King of the Jews. It was not a prominent place. God prefers to use the lowly.

The second passage is a request to know what God wants of us. Does he want us to make many sacrificial offerings? (6:6b-7). No. Does he want us to sacrifice our children on the altar as the pagans did? (v. 7b). No.

“He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (6:8). If we do not live the way we should, it is not out of ignorance. God has revealed how he wants us to live. First, we are to do justice. We are not just to talk about it, we are to do it. We are to be absolutely fair in all our dealings with our immediate family and with all with whom we have any kind of dealings. Second, we are to love kindness. We are to be kind as we meet people in the everyday affairs of life. Beyond that, we are to love kindness. We are not to be kind so that we can get more out of people, but because we cherish that attitude. Third, we are to walk with God, humbly. We are to be conscious of his presence and realize how great he is.

PRAYER
Father, as we respond to your grace, help us to live in ways which are all pleasing in your sight. In Jesus’ name. Amen.