How to Please God

“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”- Micah 6:8

                  These few verses in Micah spell out what many define as the meaning of true religion. Do what is right, love mercy and walk humbly with God. Let’s clarify this statement. There are right and wrong things you can do. When it says “do what is right” it’s not speaking of what is right in your own eyes. “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” ^{(Judges 17:6, 21:25 NLT)} We know from the OT writings that didn’t go so well. God was supposed to be their King, but they balked at that. “There is a way which seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death.” ^{(Proverbs 14:12 NASB)} So it is NOT what man sees as right in his own eyes, it is what God has told them and shown them is right. Man is basically incapable of making a correct decision regarding eternal matters of the soul without input from God.

                  You have a choice to be any type of person today that you wish … choose to be merciful and kind. There are plenty of jerks in the world. We encounter them every day. Don’t you be one of them. Stand out from the crowd by showing mercy and kindness to others. To be merciful is to be compassionate, lenient, forgiving, tenderhearted. Sadly, because of the chaotic world we live in, many of us have to work at this, but the Holy Spirit is on call 24/7 to help us whenever we are in need. If you want to show this world Christ in a real and palpable way, then exhibit mercy and kindness to ALL others, not just those who are kind in return. The real test comes when you must be kind to someone with an unkind, crass, ugly disposition. Your action or reaction toward them may be the only Christ-like example they may ever experience.

                  Our salvation doesn’t hinge on what we do in this life, but rather what God did for us. These early verses in Micah shine a bright light on man’s need for a Savior, because the reality is that we are unable to do right, love mercy and walk humbly with God unless we have been brought into fellowship with Him. We can only do these things that are pleasing to God if we submit to the leadership of the Spirit in our lives. So that which is mentioned in the opening two paragraphs is only possible if we allow Christ to live thru us. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries