“. . . and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:8

Affixed to the side of our refrigerator was a chart. This was no ordinary chart. It was a very special chart. It was in a grid format. On the left, appeared two names, mine and that of my sister, and a list of items. These were in a vertical list. Across the top were dates, i.e., January 30 – February 4, etc. What was this chart? Why, a behavior chart, of course! Under each of our names appeared a list of things we were to do: make our beds, pick up our clothes, complete our homework, and so on. For each completed task, a gold star was placed in the appropriate spot.

Did I forget to say that these stars appeared only if our tasks were completed without being told? If we had to be told, no gold star! Some of you may have had a similar, or even something else, as an “incentive” plan for each day or week. As followers of Christ, we, too, have requirements for living. The Bible is filled with what it means to be a disciple. Many of us learned early in life the Ten Commandments, the “thou shalt nots.” Maybe we learned the “Golden Rule” (Luke 6:1) in Sunday School. Or, as recorded in the gospels, the many, many instances where Jesus gave instructions.

One of my favorites is the one above from the prophet Micah. For me, it embodies not just a personal way to live, but, and maybe more important, how we are to live in community with one another. Notice the first one. It doesn’t say think about justice, or encourage justice. It’s an active verb, do justice. That means we actively pursue justice for all persons regardless of who they are. It includes not only the poor, but the marginalized too. It means we are called to fight for the rights of all people and not just some, or just those we like or we believe are deserving.

The word that particularly intrigues me is the word “kindness.” In Hebrew, it translates the word hesed. Hesed is one of those words not easily translated. At its core it means steadfastness. In fact, when used, generally it referring to the “steadfastness” of God. Wow! We’re called to live to God’s standard of steadfastness. Whenever we hear “being obedient to and doing God’s will,” this is the word that should be our guide. Are we steadfast in all of our actions as disciples? Do we practice “hesed” toward others?

Finally, to walk humbly with God is not a posture. It is not subservience, but is living in the knowledge of God’s love for us, and our active response to that love. Walking humbly incorporates the other two. When we “do justice” and “love kindness,” and practice these, then we will be walking humbly with God. Whatever we do, whether we’re praying, or being present (I’ll let you decide what that means for you), or giving, or serving, or witnessing, it does done – or should be done – out of our joyous response to what God in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, has done in our lives. See you on this marvelous journey of discipleship!

Grace and peace,

Mike

January 29, 2017