Thoughts on what it means to be a follower of God

In Sunday School, the last few weeks, we have been teaching and learning about Micah 6:8. This Scripture was part of a four part series on worship and what God wants from his people. The verse is pretty direct: "He has shown you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: to do justly; to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." The three key phrases in this verse were the basis for the lessons, and I thought our junior high students were very involved and into the discussions. Looking back on that verse, I thought there were some significant insights beyond our junior high class. The first part of the verse is "do justly." I tried to explain this phrase to the students in this way: "To do justly" is to seek and promote that which is right. "Just" does not necessarily mean "equal." It goes beyond treating people equally. God's people are to treat others in a way that is right and pleasing to the Lord. That's about where I left it with our junior high class, but I thought about it a bit more this week. How am I doing with regard to treating others in a way that is just or right? I know I am tempted, and I suppose others are as well, to treat others as they have treated me. Sometimes I find myself thinking Well, he or she had it coming or That's what they get... These thoughts, I don't think, are proper. It is true, I suppose, that some people get what they deserve, but it is not my right to pronounce that or to find satisfaction in it. To do that empties me of the grace I've received and makes me a modern-day Jonah. My goal needs to be to always seek that which is right and treat others that way. The second part of the verse is "to love mercy." In the context of the passage, Micah (speaking for the Lord) instructs the people of God to be merciful. That ought to be a part of their character or nature. "Mercy" is defined as "withholding a just punishment." To show mercy means to not mete out what might well be an earned or right punishment. Again, after a few examples, this is about where I left it with our junior high students. I thought about this one, too. I work in the OCS/OSS rooms at Union Middle School. I deal with junior high and senior high school students who have been suspended. All of them have done something against the policy of the school district. They are all guilty and receiving what is a just punishment. I know that there are some teachers that feel like these students should not be allowed any breaks. I am convinced that some educators believe the entire day in OCS/OSS be spent sitting silently at a desk and working continuously for seven hours. I understand where those teachers come from and, at one time, I thought like that, too. Now, though, I don't agree. Punishment does not have to be devoid of mercy. Sharing a drop of mercy to someone who is in the barren land of exile and punishment is not only all right, but in my book it is Christlike. I think a lot of Christians are very quick to judge others (especially those who sin in ways that they, themselves, don't) and sit by smugly wanting them to really suffer for what they've done. As people of God we can and should do better. Mercy is a gift that cannot be given too much. Let us "love mercy." The final challenge of this verse is "to walk humbly with your God." Again, Micah (speaking for God) urges the people of God to live humble lives in recognition of who they are and who God is. To our class, we stressed the importance of living and acting in a humble way. We defined "humility" as seeing ourselves as we really are in the light and context of God. After a few practical examples, that was where we left it for our class. This week, though, I thought quite a bit about this phrase. What does it mean to "walk humbly?" I believe I can illustrate it by portraying what it isn't. In my opinion, walking humbly with God is not... Thinking other people who wear the name of Jesus are less Christian than I am. Believing that I, because of what I do and think, am superior to those around me. Judging and finding fault with others, even if fault is present, for it is not mine to judge. Criticizing the church, the bride of Christ, and soiling her reputation among outsiders. Humility is a quiet, gentle spirit that knows it is by grace that it has been saved through faith. I am challenged to be less critical and "know-it-all" and more humble. I enjoyed time with this Old Testament passage and I hope you liked reading my meandering thoughts about it. Thanks for reading...