Do you ever find yourself asking, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”
I know I do, especially around this time of year. I’ve yet to get a blinding flash of insight in response to this question, although I have occasionally heard a gentle whisper in my mind.
The thing is we don’t need a special revelation to know what God wants us to do. He’s already shown us in today’s text, Micah 6:8.
What does the Lord require of you?
- To do justly
- To love mercy
- To walk humbly with your God
When faced with a decision, whether a job change or a diet change, if your decision meets these three criteria then you can be pretty confident you’re making the right choice.
Let’s take diet for example. You’re probably wondering what does diet have to do with justice, mercy, and humility. Let me explain.
I’ve chosen to be a vegetarian. So how does this choice line up with the 3 criteria of Micah 6:8?
- Do justly – to do justly means to do the morally right thing or act in a way that is well-founded or justifiable. All the latest scientific research makes it clear a plant-based diet is the healthiest diet, so I am doing my body justice when I strive to put only good things in it. A plant-based diet is also better for the planet, generating less waste and a smaller carbon footprint.
- Love mercy –A vegetarian diet is also kinder to my own body, providing numerous health benefits without the toxins found in a meat-based diet. It’s also a lot easier on our animal friends.
- Walk humbly with your God – 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” If we are to walk humbly before God we must take care of His temple, our body, carefully following all the light He has given on what is best for our health.
Now, having said all that, please don’t think I am insisting you become a vegetarian or that I think being a vegetarian is a requirement to be saved. I’m just using my diet as an illustration of how we can use Micah 6:8 to make a decision.
The point is, knowing God’s will for any decision we must make isn’t hard. Just ask yourself,
- Is this the just thing to do? Is this right for myself, my family, or other people this decision will affect?
- Is this the kind thing to do? Will this decision hurt others or myself? Is there a better way which will cause less harm?
- And, most importantly, am I surrendered to God in this decision? Have I humbled myself, submitting to His will, and trusting Him to guide me?
If your decision meets these criteria then move forward in faith, knowing God is with you in whatever you do. And don’t worry. He’ll redirect you if you’ve got it wrong. You can count on it!
May God guide a bless as you walk humbly with Him this day and throughout this year.