Scripture

Micah 6:8 (New International Version)

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Consider

We may show our devotion to God in a variety of ways: with daily quiet time and Bible study, with regular church attendance, with praying and singing, or with tithing out of our wealth for his kingdom work.

Such two-dimensional, God-to-man worship, however, the prophet Micah says is incomplete. God will not be satisfied with our offerings until we include others in our worship. When we extend ourselves socially for his glory—that is, when we do the hard work of striving for godliness in our dealings with other people—then God’s requirements for worthy sacrifice are satisfied, and he is pleased with our efforts.

What does three-dimensional worship look like? Micah spells it out quite simply for us: To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. We honor God and show our devotion to him when we submit our relationships to his sovereignty and show justice and mercy to one another.

Act justly. God wants us to treat each other fairly, respectfully, and honestly, no matter what the other person has done, even if it means exposing our own flaws and sins. Amos 5:24 links justice and righteousness as two virtues necessary for healthy human community. To act justly means acting with integrity, often laying aside our personal agenda for the good of the other person and/or the community.

Love mercy. Other translations interpret this phrase as “to love goodness” or “to love being kind to others.” To love mercy means more than being willing to forgive, although that is certainly an important outcome. To love mercy means to give compassion and loving kindness top priority in a relationship. It means actively seeking opportunities to share God’s love and grace with others, even when we think they don’t deserve such consideration.

Walk humbly with your God. It is simply not possible to sustain justice and mercy in a relationship when we are primarily focused on boosting our ego and satisfying our need to be right or in control. Walking in pride inevitably leads us deeper into conflict and hurt feelings. But walking in the fear of the Lord means we can respond to hurtful people with prudence and wise decisions that honor God. The heart that seeks God in humility is exactly the kind of sacrifice God is looking for. This is a heart he can use to bring his kingdom into this world, growing his love and goodness through our everyday relationships.

Pray

FATHER, I realize that you ask me to treat others in exactly the same way that you have always treated me—with justice and loving kindness. Keep me close to you so that when I feel threatened or offended by others, my reactions will be tempered by your holy will and your good counsel. Expose the hypocrisy in my worship; show me how I can offer you true worship through my dealings with other people.

Reflect

Hosea 6:6; Matthew 23:23

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How will you worship God through your relationships today?