"He has shown you, O man, 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

At the beginning of the new year, let us seek a deeper relationship with the Lord by heeding this key verse in Micah. There are many admonishments in the New Testament, this one is basic and I believe a good place to start.

'He has shown you...'
Who is He? The Lord! We see in Micah,
"The word of the Lord came to Micah..." 1:1 "Listen to what the Lord says..." 6:1

'...what is good. And what does the Lord require of you...'
"For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6

'...To act justly...' (Some translations say, 'to do justly') "Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy." Psalm 82:3

"To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." Proverbs 21:3

"Thus says the Lord:
Keep justice, and do righteousness,
For My salvation is about to come,
And My righteousness to be revealed.
Blessed is the man who does this..." Isaiah 56:1-2

"Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor." Romans 13:7

"Masters, give your servants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven." Colossians 4:1

'...to love mercy...'
"Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart." Proverbs 3:3

Colossians 3:12-13 says to the elect of God, "Therefore, as the elect of God, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another..."

Jesus tells us in Luke 6:36,
"Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

Being merciful to others in turns brings a blessing to the one who is merciful as-- In the Beatitudes Jesus says, "Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy." Matthew 5:7 And, Proverbs 11:17 says, "The merciful man does good to his own soul..."

'...to walk humbly with your God.'
"As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him."
Colossians 2:6

Ephesians 4:1-2, the Believer's walk must be worthy of our calling.
"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love."

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another..." 1 John 1:7 And, "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." 1 John 2:6

"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet smelling aroma." Ephesians 5:2

Lord we desire to do Your will. By Your Holy Spirit lead us in Your ways that You may be glorified in all the earth. Amen