by Kala Loptien

The Micah Mandate

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this Sound Cloud link.

“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?” Micah 6:8 English Standard Version

My uncle, with his vast broadcast/production knowledge and stellar interview skills, embarked upon a huge project last year. He first compiled a docu-style series of three video interviews with my grandma, packed with family history, interwoven with stories and memories. An amazing gift. More recently, he started a new project in memory of Grandpa.

Grandpa was a kind, honest, faithful and humble man. My mom used the Micah verse to aptly describe the kind of life Grandpa always strived for, and quite frankly, the life he very much lived. He was a man after God’s heart–gentle and patient always. His faith was rock solid. Regardless of circumstance, his response was, “Thy will be done.”

It’s easy for our human brains to quickly shift from one extreme to the other, isn’t it? Sometimes we are swept up into the things of the world–seeking that which might gratify the flesh. At other times, we worry and wonder about how we can please God. What can we do to overcome our shortcomings and failures? As the prophet Micah shares, it isn’t about sacrifices or offerings or gifts. Our works will not earn us eternity. That was won for us on the cross.

What our good and gracious God requires of us is to live our life worthy of the calling we’ve received. We are to love our neighbors…all of them; standing for justice and safeguarding the lives of those who need us most. Compassion and love should flow freely — in response to a heart that has been made new in Christ and given new mercies. Humility, like so many of these attributes, is not something that comes naturally in our human state. But we are a work in progress. A work-in-sanctified progress, thanks to our Creator and Redeemer. The more we grow in Godly wisdom, truth, faith and love, the more the Micah mandate becomes who we are–as heirs to the Kingdom. Lord, enable us to live this out in our daily lives. Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado