What does the Lord require of you and me? To most people, this is a daunting question, perhaps because, except when very young or very old, we are very aware of the societal or familial requirements placed upon us.
Everyone we know, and even those we do not, seem to have expectations of what we should say or do, in every circumstance. Today, this multitude of voices is often compounded by social media, with celebrities and ‘influencers’ offering advice on the kind of person we should be; how we should look or behave, what we should achieve, and who we should be liked by.
Expectations are no bad thing, as they indicate the hopes others have for us. However, as the standards are often set according to worldly ideals of success, trying to live up to other people’s dreams can hem us in. And as we grow older, we also develop our own expectations: how we should behave and what we might do with our gifts and talents. Sometimes these can be life-enhancing, helping us plan ahead, or they can be self-limiting, if we set our goals according to worldly standards or peer pressure.
Christians also know, as declared in Micah 6:8, that far above these expectations, God has requirements of us. This knowledge may be too wonderful, or it may be even daunting, ‘for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart’ (1 Samuel 16:7). What does God want from us? The prophet sets out three basic precepts of what God expects in our relationships with him, others and ultimately ourselves. Each precept asks us to choose how we will act as people of God. To help God’s people decide, Micah begins by telling them what God does not want: obsequious sacrifices to make up for the guilt of sins. Jesus echoes this precept when he tells the Pharisees, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’ (Matthew 12:7). We cannot hope to assuage God by working our way to righteousness. So, if God wants us to move beyond outward obligatory sacrificial deeds, what does he require of our heart-led actions?
