Micah 6:8 “He has told you O man, 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?”

The prophet asks the rhetorical question for the people of Israel, “With what shall I come before the Lord?” Israel and Judah had reached the point where they thought an outward show of faith would be sufficient to please God. They seem somewhat mystified as to why God is not favoring them but is threatening them with punishment. They, like many others, were fooled by Satan into believing that keeping the laws physically and making the right sacrifices would make God happy. How could they miss who God is so wrongly? How could they, after all they had been through, think they could serve him with their lips but not their hearts?

Micah suggests that they might be willing to offer human sacrifice if necessary. Everything and anything but what God really wants. The answer is found here in verse eight. I pointed it out in a song I wrote in the fifth and last verse, “What does He want? What does He want? What does He want from me? He wants my heart, don’t you see, He wants my heart, don’t you see, He wants my heart, don’t you see, and me.”

Justice and kindness are not sacrifices offered like a lamb or dove. Justice and kindness are the fruits of a heart tuned to God’s. They, and other desired behaviors are the result of humility spent in the presence of God. We sang, “Have thine own way, Lord, Have thine own way,” and “I surrender all.” Living in harmony with God brings sacrifices of heart and not things.

Task for Today: God has told you, hasn’t He? Yes, you know what you need to do and how you need to live. Are you walking in the light? Are you walking in His footsteps? Following where He leads you? Do you answer, “Speak Lord, your servant hears you?” Today, examine your walk and ask yourself, “What am I offering to God, things or heart?”