Micah 6:6-8

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God?

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?

Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has shown you, O mortal, 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.

Verse 8 is a oft-quoted one. But to read it in the context of sacrifice makes it even more impactful.  Think about it – the kind of living that God desires is more desirable to him than sacrifice. The fact that a life lived in justice, mercy, and humility is better than the blood of goats or humans shows how difficult it is to actually live this way. It’s a different kind of death than that of animals or humans – it’s a death of the selfishness that tries to rule us.

Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly…to make justice, mercy and humility the goals in every situation…what would that look like, live like? Our world often sees justice and mercy as opposites.  Like justice is getting what you deserve – karma – and mercy is getting off scot-free.  Neither of those definitions are accurate.  Show me Lord how to live these things in YOUR way. 

I love that it says to “walk” humble, as opposed to “be” humble. Humility isn’t the destination, it’s along for the journey…humility is just a part of the gait. Every step, it goes with you.  It leads. it walks in the room first. 

Lord forgive me for not living like this. Thank you that by the blood of Jesus, sacrifice of animals is no longer required. But help me live the sacrificial life of justice, mercy, and humility…which requires me to lay my own desires on the altar daily…a bloody slaughter indeed.  Help me see it as THAT drastic.  Holy God Keep these things ever on my mind.