WALK RIGHT WITH GOD

"What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD?” – Micah 6:8b

Walking in God’s Ways means to WALK RIGHT WITH GOD: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD?” (Mic.6:8). To walk right with Him means to move alongside God in submission and faith, as we press on in life's Journey. Before humanity’s fall in the Garden of Eden, the first couple were familiar with “the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Gen.3:8a). God didn’t create us to abandon us. We are not here alone. God delights in walking with us and us with Him. He wants to help us grow daily in our walk with Him, and develop a closer communion every day, by His Grace.

God tells us through Micah that He requires three things of us: that we do what is just, that we love in ways that manifest mercy, and WALK humbly with Him. If we fail at any of these three, then walking with God is impracticable. That does not mean that one is not saved; but it does query the quality of our relationship with God. We cannot walk with God until we are in submission to, and agreement with Him: two cannot “walk together unless they are agreed”? (Amos 3:3). We must walk to please God: “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Pro.16:7).

In the darkest moments of history, God always gives hope. His people failed Him repeatedly; just as we still do today. Yet the story never ends there. Our life-transforming God desires to change our hearts and lives to be a living representation of Him, light in a world that urgently needs His love and life. However, Micah’s prophetic burden is this: sacrifices and religious talk or rituals will never be enough to change the human heart for the better (v. 6-7). Without God’s Love compelling us and His righteousness convicting us, we’ll always come short: “that you may know the righteousness of the LORD” (v.5b).  

Having a just character, a loving and serving attitude, and sincere humility are three qualities that obviously please God. However, God is the One that can transform our lives to walk with Him and manifest these true reflections of His Character.

Justice: relates to equity, fairness, and moral rightness. To act justly is to live with a sense of right and wrong, the defining lines of which have become blurrier than ever; to walk responsibly before God, and protect the needs of the innocent. When it comes to justice, God calls His people to action, not to sit passively or stay silent when others are being abused, cheated, hurt, in need, or feeling hopeless. His Word constantly reminds us that He is a Just God. Justice is inherent in who God is!

Mercy: is Love in action. To love mercy is to show lovingkindness towards others. Just as God’s character is continually loyal and merciful to us, He calls us to live in this same way, both in our relationships with Him and with others. Mercy is showing compassion or forgiveness towards someone instead of punishment or harm. Of course, this attribute is impossible to demonstrate on our own. We desperately need the Love of Christ living and breathing in and through us to “love mercy”!

Humility: is twin to the “fear of the Lord” (Pro.22:4). The call to walk humbly before God implies relying fully on Him and His wisdom, instead of seeking our own way and doing what is right in our own eyes. Jesus is our Model of humility. All He ever did was a direct reflection of His Father! He lived in a servant-hearted way that opposed pride and arrogance, and died sacrificially so that we could live free. The path of humility is never easy, but it will always be the road God calls us to walk.