Not Just Walking with God

A reflection by Mike Willock 

Micah 6:8 (NRSV)

God has told you, O mortal, 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?

To begin the Sacred Space for Children part of the worship service on January 29, pastor Travis tried to engage the children with the Micah 6:8 preaching text. He strutted in front of them with his chest puffed out and his head thrown back to contrast a self-absorbed and prideful stride with how we should walk humbly with God.

Since then, I’ve been reflecting on that very familiar scripture. There are three action verbs – “do,” “love,” and “walk,” but we usually connect only the last of the three with the words that follow – “with your God.” I think that misses an important point. I think a better reading would be

Do justice with your God, and

Love kindness with your God, and

Walk humbly with your God.

When we separate the “justice” and “loving kindness” actions from “with your God” it can leave us thinking that those two requirements are up to us, even though we know we often fail to do justice or to love kindness. But, when we connect those requirements to “with your God”, it makes clear that everything God requires of us is done with God. God is actively working for justice and God wants all of God’s children (that includes you and me) to be loving and kind in all our relationships. God wants us to join God in the never-ending work to create the just and loving community that God desires for all humanity and indeed for all of God’s creation.

A famous Jewish rabbi was once challenged to recite the Torah while standing on one foot. The rabbi replied, “That’s easy – Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. All the rest is commentary.”

One of Barbara’s favorite scriptural teachings is  “It’s all about relationships.” And the older I get, the more I am convinced she is right. Scripture teaches us that it’s all about loving relationships – ours with God, with our neighbors, and with creation.

When we do that, we walk humbly with God.




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