What is good? What would you say if asked?
We all know how to be good. Not fighting with siblings. Sharing your cookies. Doing what you’re asked. Telling the truth. Staying off the high horse. Those things can be described as good, but they don’t exactly define it. Kids are always told to "be good", especially with Santa eyeing each of them like a hawk. I’ve come to understand “good” as happiness in itself. It can be recognized by the intrinsic elation that comes after something good has been done. That’s how I think you know if something’s really good. No one has to convince you, you don’t have to reassure yourself, it’s automatic.
A while back, Micah, a Jewish prophet laid it out for us. He said, "He has shown you, Oh Man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you, to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." This verse is significant to me because I relate it to the place where the majority of my spiritual experiences and growth have occurred. That place just happens to be Mar-Lu. This verse is used quite often, it was the verse of study about two years ago, its words are put to music for an awesome song, and this summer it was an understudy verse to our theme verse, which was Amos 5:4.
This summer was one that I won’t forget. I had the opportunity to be in the Staff in Training program. It meant a month at my favorite place in the world. The “norm” times four. One of the countless things I learned was to prepare for devotionals, and we had them every night, regardless of how insanely late it was. It allowed us to sum up our jam-packed days and remind us of how much we got accomplished without even realizing. We took in so much during those days; our “Devos” let us just think. When we had a specific verse that we were asked to reflect on, we broke it down verse by verse, picked it our favorite part, and came up with our own explanation. I decided to take this one and divvy it up Mar-Lu style, because I, personally, get the most out of it this way. Here we go.
To act justly: We just need to be honest and fair with every person, and seek to bring justice for those who are mistreated or taken advantage of.
To love mercy: We all mess up, and when we do we sure appreciate someone who is compassionate and forgiving. Forgiveness doesn't mean consequences are removed. But the thing about forgiveness is that it doesn’t seek revenge. Compassion is an attitude of the heart. These things are all a part of being.
Walk humbly with your God: When a person doesn’t fear God, that person tries to make himself an equivalent to God and will challenge all kinds of evil. But to live in a way to please God, Who is seen perfectly in Jesus, is a good way to live.
To act justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly with God, that's God's answer as to what is good!
by Marion Kresslein
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