God’s Powerful Call in Micah 6:8
Micah was a prophet of God around 700 B.C. who prophesied God’s judgement and justice on Judah and Israel because of their sin. He spoke to the leaders of Jacob and rulers of Israel — the haters of good and lovers of evil (Micah 3:2) — about God’s desire to redeem his people.
Through Micah, God promised to send a new ruler for his people — one who would stand and shepherd his flock so they could live securely and with peace (Micah 5). Micah then spoke of what repentance should look like:
Act justly.
Love mercy.
Walk humbly with God.
"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, NIV
Each phrase in Micah 6:8 shows us how to live in a way that pleases God, similar to the commandments Jesus gives in Matthew 22:37–40.
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
— Matthew 22:37-40, NIV
Act Justly
Acting justly is about being just and doing justice. "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute" (Proverbs 31:8, NIV).
At Compassion, we live out this command and act justly by releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name. We help children become who God intends them to be by caring for them holistically — physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually — so they can experience the opposite of what poverty says they deserve.
Love Mercy
Mercy is the compassionate treatment of those in need. Mercy appears throughout God’s word in relation to forgiveness and withholding punishment. God the Father showed us mercy when he sacrificed his son, Christ Jesus, on the cross to pay the price for our sins, even when he could have chosen to punish us instead.
Mercy is the fruit of compassion, and at Compassion, when we act to ease the suffering of children living in poverty, we “love mercy.”
Walk Humbly With Your God
Humility is essential to recognizing and accepting our total dependence on God. God has given us everything, even the gift of life. Without God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we would be separated from God and under judgement for the weight of our sin.
At Compassion, Jesus is the core of our ministry. His life, teachings and character shape our programs and guide how we love people, respect communities and cooperate with nations. We strive to walk humbly with our God as we minister in his name.
Learning to Walk With Jesus
Think about your relationship with God as taking a walk with a wise teacher. That’s what it was like for Jesus’ disciples. They walked with their rabbi (the Hebrew word for teacher) as he spoke around Israel about the kingdom of God and proclaimed good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners and the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18-19, NIV).
As the disciples walked with and followed Jesus, they also listened and asked him questions. They were welcomed to engage and learn — as we still are today.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
— Matthew 11:29, NIV
God Teaches Us What Is Good
Jesus connected loving God and loving others when he gave us the greatest commandments in Matthew 22. He wants us, his deeply loved children, to treat each other fairly and with kindness — with justice and mercy.
When we are not walking with God and are living in our sins, it’s hard to show God’s mercy and love to others. But when we walk with God, we learn to love our neighbors in concrete ways because God has already shown us what is good (Micah 6:8). We do not have to guess or figure it out for ourselves.
Romans 12:2 (NIV) explains it this way:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Being Good to Our Neighbors
When our lives are renewed in Christ through accepting his death and resurrection and learning to follow him, we want our lives to change for good. This is where we join God’s people in acting justly and loving mercy.
Here are some verses that, like Micah 6:8, give examples of how we can be good to our neighbors.
Acting Justly
“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another’” (Zechariah 7:9, NIV).
“Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor” (Romans 13:7, NIV).
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow” (Isaiah 1:17, NIV).
Loving Mercy
The command to love mercy can also be translated “love kindness,” and these Bible verses show us how it delights God when we are kind and merciful.
“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6, NIV).
“[Jesus asked], ‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise’” (Luke 10:36-37, NIV).
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32, NIV).
A Practical Application of Micah 6:8 — Child Sponsorship
Children living in poverty often experience the world as unkind and uncaring. When you sponsor a child, you directly apply Micah 6:8 to the brokenness of this world. Sponsoring a child allows you to act justly and love mercy as you care for a child through prayers, encouraging letters and financial support.
Through the care you help provide, your sponsored child will experience God’s mercy, love, grace and kindness. Child sponsorship empowers every child with:
An introduction to the gospel.
Education.
Medical care.
Safe community.
Protection from abuse.
Nutrition support.
Disaster relief.
As you walk humbly with your God, may your heart and mind be transformed by Christ’s teachings and your life be poured out for the good of your neighbors.
