Actions speak louder than words

(I'm on for the staff worship time tomorrow morning, and will be sharing this)

Ever wondered if God’s trying to get a message through? Last weekend I woke up with this verse in my head:

Micah 6:8 (KJV)
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 (NIV)
He has showed you, O man, 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.

I had printed out 3 articles to read from the Internet over the weekend. Each one had something to do with this verse. I picked up a book I’d received the day before, and there it was again. After I’d been hammered over the head with this verse everywhere I turned, I penned these thoughts:

Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly.

Actions speak louder than words – words without actions mean nothing.

Only three things are required – justice, mercy and humility.
We are not called to bicker over jewellery or meat or who is right or wrong.

We are called to be just, merciful, humble.

Justice – doing right by others. Not judging, not pointing fingers – only being just.
Doing justly – fairness to all around us. Fighting for fair treatment for human, animal or environment. Not sitting on our hands and hoping the bad things go away. It’s stepping in to the fray and standing up for the weak.

Mercy – LOVE mercy. Let our lives revolve around being passionately merciful. Jesus said it – clothe the naked, feed the hungry, care for the uncared-for.
See the spark of God-soul in everyone from the drunk sheltering in a doorway, to the dictator in the next country, to the neighbour right next door. Especially the neighbour right next door, who is close enough to truly show mercy to.

Humility – not boastfulness, not pride. Not a better-than-thou or a you’re-out-I’m-in. Just a humble following of He who knit us together and knows our thoughts. We are not called to map out the paths and journeys of others or examine where they deviate, but rather to follow OUR Leader with our eyes on Him alone, wherever that may lead. Through darkness or light. Only keep walking. Eyes fixed ahead.
Forgive us Lord if we should boast. Your ways and ours are so very different.

Actions speak louder than words.

Taking God’s name in vain has less to do with using it inappropriately than it does with claiming the name Christian, yet living as if we’d never met Christ.

Actions speak louder than words. Do. Walk. Love. Justice, Mercy, Humility.