“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)

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to help serve at Crazy Faith Street Ministry (a local outreach group serving the homeless). Jeff and I were charge of the coffee-he poured and I did the adding of sugar and milk. Then I handed the person their cup. As each person would juggle their plate of food and maybe a glass of juice or milk, they would take the cup. What drew my attention were the hands that were receiving it. Most of them were not what we would consider clean. I could see the dirt built up around their fingernails. It is amazing to me how we can forget how fortunate we are in what we have: a warm shelter, access to clean water to take a shower, food in the fridge and so on. But each person told me “thank you” and a lot of times they tell us “God bless you.” We’re there to serve and it’s quite humbling to be told “God bless you” first.

That’s where walking humbly with your God comes. All of the words in what the Lord requires of us are action words: Act, love, and walk. This means we can’t just “think something is a great idea” and then not do anything about it. Or “let someone else do it.” That’s where we as individuals need to be bold, step out of our comfort zones and serve where God is calling you. I have taken many steps out of my comfort zone in the past few years and did I try to talk myself out of it? Of course. But, it’s been in those steps where I have been able to meet so many new people and hopefully encourage them in their journeys as well. I have trusted God in my walk and He has been with me in every step. Jesus walked on the earth, showing us how to serve “the least of these”, not just think someone should. In His story about separating the sheep and goats on judgment day, He greets those who “feed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, invited in a stranger, visited the prisoner, or took care of the sick” (paraphrased Matt 25: 35-26). This call to act is not just for a pastor, an elder, a deacon, but for all believers. God has given all of us gifts and talents to help in our own way. Jesus took the humble walk to the cross so that we are all made clean in His blood.

What step are you willing to take to act more justly, to love more merciful and to walk more humbly this next year?