Jonathan Munson, Executive Director

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

The best recipes are often the simplest.

Take Chick-fil-A lemonade, for example. It contains just three ingredients – water, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and sugar. That’s it. But combined, they create a heavenly concoction of thirst-quenching goodness that’s perfect for a hot summer day…or any day, for that matter.   

In a way, Micah gives us a simple “recipe” for pleasing God: act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. So, if you’ve ever wondered what God wants from you in everyday life, Micah gives you a good place to start.  

But it’s not like these ingredients were new information. God had already told His people what He desired. Somewhere along the way, however, they veered off course, and injustice, immorality, and idolatry became widespread. Basically, the people were going through the motions of religion but had lost the heart of genuine faithfulness.

(It can happen to us, too.)

As Micah called them to return to God, their first instinct was to increase their religious activity, as if that’s what God truly desired: “With what shall I come before the Lord…will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil?” (Micah 6:6-7). In other words, “Micah, tell us what to do. We’ll do more. We’ll try even harder!”

But Micah’s answer reminded them of a recipe they’d forgotten. Yes, sacrifices were important, but they were never meant to replace a relationship with God or righteous living. The Lord wanted more than empty, religious rituals; He wanted their hearts.

The same is true for us today.

God isn’t impressed by us merely going through the motions of the Christian life. He wants us to have a genuine relationship with Him, one that shapes how we live every day, not just how we behave in religious settings. To be clear, Micah isn’t giving us a recipe for earning salvation. But once we are saved…once we claim to know God and belong to Him, our lives should increasingly reflect His heart and priorities–namely, justice, mercy, and humility. 

Let’s briefly unpack this simple recipe. As we do, consider which ingredient you may need more of in your daily life.

Justice—In a harsh, self-centered world, people who “act justly” are a breath of fresh air. Acting justly isn’t about just not doing wrong; it’s about intentionally doing what’s right. As Jesus said, “Do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). In every interaction, we should aim to be fair and honest, showing dignity and respect to all, especially the vulnerable, the oppressed, and those who cannot offer us anything in return.

Mercy—“God delights in showing mercy” (Micah 7:18) and continuously pours out His lovingkindness on His children. As recipients of such incredible mercy, how could we ever withhold it from others? Mercy isn’t just something we believe in; it’s something we’re called to demonstrate in our relationships. Who in your life needs mercy, forgiveness, or patience from you today?  

Humility—The starting point of humility is reverence for God. The more we understand His greatness and the grace He extends to us every moment of our lives, the humbler we become. Like the tax collector who prayed, “Have mercy on me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13), humble people live with a constant awareness of their need before God. Humility leads us to be deeply grateful for His grace, to wholeheartedly rely on His strength, and to joyfully follow His lead, no matter what He asks us to do or where He calls us to go.

These simple ingredients aren’t difficult to understand. Most of us would readily agree that justice, mercy, and humility are good and necessary qualities. But the Lord isn’t merely asking if we understand the recipe or agree with it intellectually. He wants us to live it in the everyday moments of life.

What God wants from you today isn’t a mystery. He’s made it clear.

Ask God to shape your heart–and your life–around the simple, faithful way of living He’s already shown us.  

DIG DEEPER
Read “What Does It Mean to Do Justly, Love Mercy, & Walk Humbly?” at GotQuestions.org