Hello again…I know I haven’t posted on Fridays in a couple of weeks. My current theology class has been kicking my rear end and I just haven’t had enough time for everything. A major book critical review, reading one more book, and a final exam were eating my lunch every.single.day. BUT, I finished! I even finished ahead of my goal which means I have the entire month of August to not study {at least not on the schedule of someone else}.
Are you wondering about that title Act – Love – Walk is all about? Well those are the verbs from a verse taken from the Old Testament book of Micah. Actually, the verse says, “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.” Micah 6:8
The last time I posted in Faith on Fridays, I wrote about peacemaking. You can read it here. I think it is so important to strive to live a peace with others. I know it can be difficult, especially when you have been wronged but it is possible. Difficult yet possible. If peacemaking isn’t easy then neither is acting justly, loving mercy or walking humbly. The high road really is never easy yet it more rewarding. It will grow you in wisdom and perseverance, among other beautiful qualities.
I don’t know about you, but I seriously want to be treated justly or fairly. I really dislike being treated in ways that put me in a bad light or reflect negatively upon me. I want to be seen for my best qualities. I want to be treated justly. But then I am forced to search myself and determine if I actually act justly toward others. Well, probably when it’s people I like or want to impress but not so much when it’s someone not in that category. I surely don’t act justly or think about the ways my day-to-day life can and does affect others less fortunate or others who work through slave labor to supply my daily need {lust} for coffee or chocolate. Did you know that it is true? Children are trafficked in those industries to meet the great demand for those products. All I have to do is buy free trade but I am not always willing to pay those prices. That my friends, is not act justly.
What about mercy? Well, mercy is not getting what I do deserve. The best way for me to describe this is in a trivial manner. For example, I am a driver who speeds and drives semi-agressively all the time. I have not received a speeding ticket and yet do I deserve one? Emphatically, YES! Since I’ve been shown great mercy {in many more ways than my offensive driving tactics} does it tend to make me merciful to others? I wish I could say yes, but I find myself annoyed and impatient on regular basis or umm…should I say daily. Because I get annoyed, I do not want to show mercy to people. I want to give what they deserve or rather what I think they deserve. But do I really desire to show mercy? YES! But my actions tend to fall short of my desires.
What about walking humbly with God? Am I ever humble? About the time I think I am I realize thinking I am humble is a prime example of not being humble. Hilarious isn’t it? Being humble means I have the courage to put others before myself. Ouch! Did that hurt you to read because it kinda hurt to think and type it. Sure I want to “help” others…as long as all my needs are met. Do I put others first? Do I think about doing for others rather than me? Okay, that’s enough isn’t it? I have to stop there because I can’t really honestly say yes to those questions. Again, my actions don’t follow my desires. I desire those things but I just can’t do them…not always anyway.
So, am I failure? Do you feel like a failure? Please don’t if you do because we are human and humans fail. Every.single.day! For me to live and walk in this tension is just a part of walking in faith with the Lord. Though I fail, I can be forgiven. I can be confident in these words “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.“ Philippians 1:6
Would love to hear from you. Any thoughts about your struggles/tensions in living and walking through life?
Hope you have a lovely weekend, friends.
Maryanne says
Thank you for this post, Carrie. It really got me thinking! I so often put my needs (which, honestly, are mere “wants”) ahead of others’. Unless I concentrate on being really intentional, self just takes over! Thank you for the reminder from Micah. So glad God loves me, failures and all! <3
Carrie says
Isn’t it so easy to confuse needs and wants? The culture definitely mixes those up and sends us misguided messages all the time. We really have to have our minds and hearts engaged. 🙂 Glad you stopped by!
Lana L. says
I have been working on being more intentional in all of these areas (plus many more) on a daily basis. I fail most days, but I think being aware is the first step. I love your Faith on Friday series – it helps make me a better person!
Carrie says
Awww…thanks, Lana! Love that it speaks to you!