“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”-Micah 6:8
Well-known British preacher C.H. Spurgeon once commented on the way a Christian ought to live, “A man’s life is always more forcible than his speech. When men take stock of him they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies. If his life and doctrine disagree the mass of onlookers accept his practice and reject his preaching.” —–
Dr. Paul Chappell writes:
“First, God commands us to do justly. Justice has been described as “the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness.” God desires that we practice righteousness and moral rightness in our everyday life.
What good is a godly example at church if we are not daily living by the commands of God’s Word? Too many times Christians learn to “put on the show” at church. They look, act, and speak correctly when around others, but when they go home Sunday night or enter the workplace Monday morning, they leave their godly character at church. God doesn’t command us to act justly on Sundays and Wednesdays. He commands us to obey Him every day. Only as we are consistently walking with God each day will our example point others to God.
Second, God commands us to love mercy. Mercy is giving/receiving something that is unwarranted or undeserved. Think of this in your life. Was there ever a time you were given something you didn’t deserve? What about salvation? None of us deserve forgiveness and eternal life, yet God freely gave it to us.
While mercy is something we all enjoy experiencing, how often do we practice it? We are ready and willing to accept mercy, but how willing are we to give mercy? The next time someone treats you unfairly or upsets you, remember mercy. Remember the Cross and the undeserved favor Christ showed you. Practice mercy by forgiving others when you are wronged.
Last, God also commands us to walk humbly with Him. Alone we cannot sustain a godly example. Temptation will arise; trials will come; frustrations will mount; and we will slip in our godly examples from time to time. But as we daily walk with God through prayer and Bible reading, God will give us the strength to live righteously and get back on track when we falter.
God gives the three-step pattern to how to maintain a godly example—live righteously, practice mercy, and walk with Him. Are you following those steps? If not, commit to applying them to your life today. Take the first step right now of seeking God’s help to help you become a better example of Him each day. “
