DEVOTION – DAY 416

Micah 6:8 “Living Differently”

Micah 6:8 “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 was a prophet that lived at a time when other prophets like Amos, Hosea and Isaiah also lived. This was about 700 years before Jesus Christ was born. In defining what would be a proper relationship with God, Micah helpfully summarized the major themes found in the writings of his fellow prophets. 1) Believers were to act justly – this was what Amos had prophesied. 2) Believers were to love mercy – this was what Hosea had prophesied. 3) Believers were to walk humbly with God – this was what Isaiah had prophesied. Micah addressed the above verse to the nation of Israel, that God expected obedience from His covenanted people. The same applies to all Christians today – we are to act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with God.

But the world we live in today is operating very differently. There is injustice because there seems to be one set of laws and rules for the poor and common people, and another set of laws and rules for the rich and powerful. That is why the rich seem to get richer and the poor get more and more oppressed. Mercy is also sometimes missing. We see refugees trying to reach Europe being turned back, Rohingya refugees being towed away from Indonesian waters because they are unwelcomed. And if we look at social media, people trumpet the wealth and lifestyles of the rich, famous – luxury, gluttony, excess are all treated as virtues – they are the opposite of being humble. 

That means that God expects Christians to live differently from the way the rest of the world lives. I know a Christian who chose to be merciful and forgave someone who had wronged her, rather than press charges and have him arrested. I know someone who treated his employees fairly and never exploited them. He believed that God would honor him, when he honors God, by being a fair and just employer. I know someone who lives modestly and quietly, despite his wealth and he prefers to use his wealth to help the less fortunate and not draw attention to himself. These are qualities that the Lord wants His people to show, so that the rest of the world will notice the difference between those who have a relationship with Him, and those who do not.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for reminding us that you want to set us apart from the rest of the world. Please help us to obey you, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you. We pray this in the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. What are some examples you see today where people do not act justly, love mercy or walk humbly with God? Discuss.
  2. What are some ways that Christians can act justly, love and show mercy and walk humbly with God? Discuss.
  3. Why is it important for Christians to behave differently from the rest of the world? Discuss.
  4. In what ways do your lifestyle show that you live differently from the world?