Micah 6:6-8: “With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before 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 give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O mortal, 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?
It seems so simple, and yet it’s so hard. What does God require of us? To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.
Like the people of Israel, we often wish God would be satisfied with something easier and more tangible. Maybe not a burnt offerings or thousands of rams, but the equivalent for this day. Can’t we just send a check to that organization to fight injustice for us? If they prevail, can’t we take credit? Afterall, they couldn’t have done it without our support, right?
Don’t get me wrong. As one who has worked in those organizations all my life, I appreciate having the backing of people behind me, whether I’m lobbying Congress or testifying on a federal rulemaking. And I write my fair share of checks to other organizations to fight other battles I don’t have time or interest to fight myself.
But what does God really want? God wants us to get our hands dirty and be active participants in creating a better world. We are called to DO justice, not just like or approve of justice. We are called to LOVE kindness, not just hope that it happens. And God wants to walk with us on our journey and be our companion.
As we enter into a this time of Lent, it’s appropriate to work on making those corrections in our lives that keep us from being who we are called to be and doing what is required of us. What does the Lord require of you?
