What does God want?

Many times in our lives we ask ourselves the question:  What does he want? or “What does she want?”  We are confused, either because we are getting mixed signals from someone or simply because we are “dull of hearing”…of course that’s the case for most husbands!  But it is frustrating when we don’t know what others want or expect of us.

In the Old Testament book of Micah, we read a very interesting verse in chapter 6, verse 8.  Here it is:  He has shown you, O man, what is good;  And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?  This verse is found on church signs and on bumper stickers.  The three key thoughts are usually listed as “do justly, love mercy and walk humbly”.  These are all good ideas.  But I think that emphasizing these three phrases misses the most significant part of the passage.  The most significant part in my opinion is the “with your God” phrase.  God is a God of relationship.  God wants to be “with us”.  Jesus is referred to as “Immanuel” or “God with us”.  God loves us so much that He wants to walk or live with us.  I also think this is important because we can’t do the other three things on our own.  We can’t really live justly without God’s enabling power.  Without God we will inevitably live “unjustly”.  We cannot really love mercy without pure mercy indwelling us.  Sure, we love it when others extend mercy to us but being merciful to others is not that easy.  Finally, walking humbly is not easy when we are filled with human pride.  But when we walk “with God” all of these phrases are possible.

So, what does God require of you and me?  First and foremost He desires that we walk with Him.  If we will do that, He will help us take care of the justly, mercy and humbly part.

Have a just, merciful and humble day…walking WITH God.