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Micah 6:8
Life

He has told you, O man, 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?

Living a three dimensional life 

In the book of Micah in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), we read of a period in history where the people of Israel turned away from God, and God spoke through Micah to warn the them what would happen if they continued on that trajectory.  Micah then summarized (in chapter 6) what it means for Israel to follow God. So, what was expected of them? A burnt offering? A sacrifice? God revealed: no, none of those things, rather, what He required was for them to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly in their relationship with Him.

This simple (but oftentimes difficult) way of living is a pathway of life with God - focused in its simplicity, but potent in its impact. It is living in three dimensions: upward, in a devoted, vibrant relationship with God; inward, being devoted to living the same kind of steadfast love in our relationships that we experience from God; and outward, caring for those around us.

Micah 6:8 (NCV)
The Lord has told you, human, what is good;
    he has told you what he wants from you:
to do what is right to other people,
    love being kind to others,
    and live humbly, obeying your God.

Walk humbly

To walk humbly with God means to trust Him and His ways. In times of waiting or hardship, it often means laying down our ambitions and agendas, and opening ourselves to what the Lord may be doing in and through us. It means surrender: laying down our way, and submitting to God's way and will.

Love mercy

The word in the Hebrew  that is translated "mercy" here is actually a hard to translate word that doesn't have an English equivalent. The word in the Hebrew is "hesed" and its meaning  is a kind of relational, 'sticky love,' that is sometimes translated "steadfast love," "loving-kindness," or mercy. This love pursues you and never gives up. It never fails. God says to love this kind of relational, persistent love.

Do justice

The word for justice here includes advocating for the weak and vulnerable, and actually, even changing social structures to prevent injustice. 

What is God saying?

  • In this three dimensional life that God calls us to, which of these three areas do you feel most hungry for?
  • In which do you feel the weakest?
  • Pause and consider: what might the Lord be inviting me to do today to press into this three dimensional life?

What are you going to do about it?

  • What is the practical, one-foot-in-front-of-the-other thing that I can do to 'live into' what He's revealing to me?
  • What is one thing that I can do today to walk out this kind of lifestyle?