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Have Mercy on Me

“He has showed 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

Many Bible scholars refer to Micah 6:8 as the “heart” of the Old Testament – a one verse summary of Old Testament teaching. Micah’s focus is similar in many ways to that in Christ’s great commandment as recorded in Matthew 23:37-40. Micah’s’ focus is on the simplicity or relationships. Micah give us the “vertical” command to “walk humbly with God” and the “horizontal” command to “do justly and love mercy.” We see two ingredients highlighted in this commandment. First, to do rightly and justly so that we don’t offend or sin against others. Then second, to be a lover of mercy – perhaps particularly as we encounter the offenses and sin of others.

We all mess up, and one of our biggest fears is that the person on the receiving end of our mistake will make us pay big-time. It’s a wonderful experience when our mistakes are met with mercy instead of wrath. We are relieved when, instead of blasting us, the person forgives us and tries to help us learn from the mistake. That’s what mercy is all about.

We all make mistakes and when we do, we need – sometimes desperately – others to show us mercy. When they do, healing takes place. When they don’t, the pain worsens. Relationships need mercy to be successful. With the attitude of mercy, we become what God intends us to be – mature, deeply loving people.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thanks for giving me the instructions for all areas of my life, including the need to show mercy to those You have placed in my life. Empower my by Your Holy Spirit to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with You as my guide, my example and my guide. I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen