By Rev Claire Dawe, Manningham Uniting Church
“He has told you, O mortal, 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
I included this reading from Micah in the service when I was ordained and I use it constantly in prayer reflections.
When I become overwhelmed or simply can’t grasp the clarity of vision I need, I turn to this verse so I can find some alignment with what’s actually important, and what is not.
In the previous verses, the author lists the “saving acts” of God and then poses the question, ‘What does the Lord require of us?’. And the answer is so simple: Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with our God. We don’t need anything else.
Life is made ever more complicated by increasing regulation, access to news media (real and fake), our general expectations of modern life, but it was ever thus – just read Micah verses 6-7.
Some people hark back to the good old days when everything was better – it wasn’t – and when everyone respected each other – they didn’t, the disrespect was just hidden.
It’s so easy to knock new regulatory requirements such as Safe Church, as they create an extra layer of work for us, but by ensuring the most vulnerable in our communities are cared for and protected, we are acting justly, loving kindness and walking humbly with God.
This verse also reminds me that it is God who saves, not me. My understanding of faith motivates me to work in the realm of social justice and delve into the ethics of different life issues.
It is easy to be overwhelmed by stories of suffering. But my role is not to save the world, it is to walk humbly with a God who leads to where I can make the most impact.
