Or rather it seemed like it, on the inside at least. We've all had those days - days when your soul is screaming and you feel like clawing down the walls of your very being. I had more questions than answers, more questions than could ever be answered. Around midnight I found myself on my knees (really the best place to be) and cried out to the Lord, over and over, "What do You want from me?"
The reply came in that still small voice, the one that can easily be missed or drowned out but can never be forgotten... Micah 6:8."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?" Micah 6:8 NKJV
Well, when God has already spoken, there's no point in continuing to ask a question that has been answered. So I turned my attention to the verse.
Love mercy... Okay, I understand the concept of loving mercy. Something along the lines of not being harsh or quick in judgment, forgiving easily, and giving other people grace instead of what they deserve.
Walk humbly with your God... Well, we're working on that one. I don't have it down (if I got really good at humility, I would then be proud of myself for being humble and would have to start all over again!), but I understand it.
Do justly...?
What does it mean to do justly? I didn't understand it so I turned to Godly friends and mentors for their feedback as well as to the ultimate authority, the Bible itself. Here is what I found:
Another version translates the verse "seek justice," and there are plenty of verses in the Bible about preserving justice, dealing fairly in business transactions, protecting the helpless, etc. But I think that "do justly" means so much more than simply seeking justice.
Doing justly means that everything you do is just. It means that every action has a pure motive, is done with others' best interests in mind (not simply your own), and is right and honorable to the best of your ability.
Friends can do justly by being honest with each other. An employee can do justly by working with his/her employer's goals in mind, protecting the employer's assets, never cheating the employer in time, money, or effort. An employer can do justly by dealing fairly with his/her employees, fulfilling promises, setting attainable goals, paying promptly and correctly, and treating everyone with respect. In my job, doing justly towards my customers means truly listening to them, performing my job correctly and efficiently so that they receive the best return for their money, and doing my best to correct any mistakes that occur.
How can you "do justly" in your own life?
