Friends in Christ Message for February 2, 2002

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Friends in Christ Weekly Message
February 2, 2002

He has told you, O mortal, 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?
Micah 6:8 (NRSV*)

This is one of many places in both the Old and New Testaments where the point is made that it is not animal sacrifices or adherence to a legalistic set of rules that the Lord seeks of us. It is good to be free of such requirements, but it is also not easy to consistently meet the standard set before us - in this passage set out in three parts.

How faithful are we in doing justice? Do we weigh fairly how others should be treated, and not try to weight the scales in favor of ourselves, those that have the ability to reward us, and our friends?

How much do we show that we really love kindness - or mercy as other translations render it? Are we models of compassion and caring? Do we go out of our way to help people in need, no matter what seemingly disagreeable qualities they may have?

How humbly do we walk with our God? Do we set aside our own ideas, and earnestly seek what God's will is in everything we do? Do we truly seek to be servants of God and the people God loves, and not seek power or position?

In reviewing the standards Micah sets forth, I can see many ways in which I've fallen short, and need to ask God to continue the work of transforming me into His image. I think Micah has given us each some things we need to examine prayerfully.

Bill Samuel

* New Revised Standard Version © Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

P.S. I also want to offer you someone else's reflections, in this case focusing on what 9/11 teaches us, for you to ponder. I found Richard Foster's January 2002 Pastoral Letter to be very helpful.