"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God."
Micah 6:8
Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly.
I love this verse. I love it so much, I painted it on a piece of wood and hung it above our fireplace. My heart bursts for justice, mercy, and humility. My soul longs for the three. I am passionate, so very passionate, about justice, mercy, and humility. So much so, that observing the state of our nation and the world around us makes me feel a physical discomfort so deep that oftentimes, I have to walk away and get alone to regroup and compose myself.
God calls us to mercy, justice, and humility throughout the Scriptures. Jesus lived this out in his 33 years on earth. So, it is only fitting that we are all wired for these three things. It is in our nature to have a response when we witness an injustice. We can understand when someone comes completely undone when another doesn't receive mercy where grace should abound. We naturally criticize the pompous who seem to lack one ounce of humility. We were built for justice, mercy, and humility.
Then, why do we get it so wrong so often?
If we are built, created for, justice, mercy, and humility, then why does our world seem so out-of-whack? If we carry these three truths, whether a Christian or not, the world should be peaceful. Of course, you are going to still have your crazies. But, the common community should reflect one of love and grace. Yet, that is not what many of us our witnessing as of late.
When it comes to justice, mercy, and humility, you can't have one without the other or you get off-balance. If your cry for justice outweighs your humility, pride and anger can sneak in. If you are too merciful, boundaries are lost and things get muddy. You cannot have one without the other. They are mutually exclusive. When one of the three takes over, pride, fear, anger, hostility, entitlement, and the like creep in.
I recently listened to a podcast where the host interviewed a Mormon and a Christian. She did not have these guests on to debate their differing theology. Instead, she interviewed the ladies because they are a unique pair. The two have come together unified to teach the people of their faiths about the other. They realized they can do greater good together than apart. Even though their belief systems disagree, their determination to live out the love, grace, and service of Jesus is the same. Because of this, they have set out to work together for the common good of man.
As I listened to these women, both were deeply passionate about their faith. Each lady believed their faith system was the right one. Even though their ideals oppose one another, they have found a way to listen and learn from each other with humility and grace. Thus, they are able to come together with a wider outreach to work for justice and show mercy.
When the host asked the ladies if they've received any push-back, both gave a resounding, "YES!" Ironically, the push back has not come from the general public. However, the opposition derived within their own congregation. The problem the Evangelicals and Mormons have with the women of their faith working together is that neither is trying to convert the other. Instead, their goal is to act justly towards one another, show each other mercy, and humbly learn from each other while serving others. Their goal is to love not to convert. The know that's God's job. Because they have humbly accepted their role in this equation that God has called them to, they are not easily offended by the other. Wow. What a concept.
If we find the balance between loving justice, seeking mercy, and walking humbly, our hard conversations with one another will be a lot more peace-filled. We will witness much more listening a whole lot less noise. When we refuse to allow justice to overtake mercy or humility to get lost in justice, we open the door to understanding others giving grace the way Jesus did.
Look, I would love to have the whole world know my Savior. Heck, I would be fulfilled if just my family and friends who didn't know Jesus came to know and accept him because I know what it's like on the other side. But, my role isn't converting every last person whether that be converting them to Christianity or to my cause of the moment. My role in this big wide world is to act justly towards those around me; especially those who oppose and think differently than me. I am to love mercy. That means I am merciful to those that offend and wrong me. And finally, I am to be humble. Pride has no place in my vocabulary or my life for it leads to anger, resentment, and hate.
Life is about others and when we are others-focused we naturally act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.
May you act justly towards those who persecute you.
May you be merciful to those who offend you.
May you live humbly opening the door to listen more.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God."
Micah 6:8
Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly.
I love this verse. I love it so much, I painted it on a piece of wood and hung it above our fireplace. My heart bursts for justice, mercy, and humility. My soul longs for the three. I am passionate, so very passionate, about justice, mercy, and humility. So much so, that observing the state of our nation and the world around us makes me feel a physical discomfort so deep that oftentimes, I have to walk away and get alone to regroup and compose myself.
God calls us to mercy, justice, and humility throughout the Scriptures. Jesus lived this out in his 33 years on earth. So, it is only fitting that we are all wired for these three things. It is in our nature to have a response when we witness an injustice. We can understand when someone comes completely undone when another doesn't receive mercy where grace should abound. We naturally criticize the pompous who seem to lack one ounce of humility. We were built for justice, mercy, and humility.
Then, why do we get it so wrong so often?
If we are built, created for, justice, mercy, and humility, then why does our world seem so out-of-whack? If we carry these three truths, whether a Christian or not, the world should be peaceful. Of course, you are going to still have your crazies. But, the common community should reflect one of love and grace. Yet, that is not what many of us our witnessing as of late.
When it comes to justice, mercy, and humility, you can't have one without the other or you get off-balance. If your cry for justice outweighs your humility, pride and anger can sneak in. If you are too merciful, boundaries are lost and things get muddy. You cannot have one without the other. They are mutually exclusive. When one of the three takes over, pride, fear, anger, hostility, entitlement, and the like creep in.
I recently listened to a podcast where the host interviewed a Mormon and a Christian. She did not have these guests on to debate their differing theology. Instead, she interviewed the ladies because they are a unique pair. The two have come together unified to teach the people of their faiths about the other. They realized they can do greater good together than apart. Even though their belief systems disagree, their determination to live out the love, grace, and service of Jesus is the same. Because of this, they have set out to work together for the common good of man.
As I listened to these women, both were deeply passionate about their faith. Each lady believed their faith system was the right one. Even though their ideals oppose one another, they have found a way to listen and learn from each other with humility and grace. Thus, they are able to come together with a wider outreach to work for justice and show mercy.
When the host asked the ladies if they've received any push-back, both gave a resounding, "YES!" Ironically, the push back has not come from the general public. However, the opposition derived within their own congregation. The problem the Evangelicals and Mormons have with the women of their faith working together is that neither is trying to convert the other. Instead, their goal is to act justly towards one another, show each other mercy, and humbly learn from each other while serving others. Their goal is to love not to convert. The know that's God's job. Because they have humbly accepted their role in this equation that God has called them to, they are not easily offended by the other. Wow. What a concept.
If we find the balance between loving justice, seeking mercy, and walking humbly, our hard conversations with one another will be a lot more peace-filled. We will witness much more listening a whole lot less noise. When we refuse to allow justice to overtake mercy or humility to get lost in justice, we open the door to understanding others giving grace the way Jesus did.
Look, I would love to have the whole world know my Savior. Heck, I would be fulfilled if just my family and friends who didn't know Jesus came to know and accept him because I know what it's like on the other side. But, my role isn't converting every last person whether that be converting them to Christianity or to my cause of the moment. My role in this big wide world is to act justly towards those around me; especially those who oppose and think differently than me. I am to love mercy. That means I am merciful to those that offend and wrong me. And finally, I am to be humble. Pride has no place in my vocabulary or my life for it leads to anger, resentment, and hate.
Life is about others and when we are others-focused we naturally act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.
May you act justly towards those who persecute you.
May you be merciful to those who offend you.
May you live humbly opening the door to listen more.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
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