Transforming Lives Through Justice, Mercy, and Humility

The blood of Jesus still works. It reaches the highest mountain and flows to the lowest valley, never losing its power. This truth is not just a refrain to sing, but a foundation to stand on. The blood that saved us is the same blood that calls us to live differently. God is not impressed by our outward displays—our offerings, our rituals, our performances—if they are not matched by lives of justice, mercy, and humility. The prophet Micah, speaking to a people who had perfected religious performance but neglected righteous practice, reminds us that God’s requirements are clear and non-negotiable: do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.

Micah’s words are as urgent now as they were in the eighth century BCE. In a world where injustice is often cloaked in religious language and where symbolic gestures are substituted for substantive change, God’s call is to transformation, not transaction. Justice is not an abstract idea; it is the public face of love. It means setting right what is wrong, defending the vulnerable, and building systems that protect rather than exploit. Our ancestors understood this, living out justice and mercy even when the law and society were against them.

Mercy, or hessed, is not a sentimental feeling but a stubborn, covenant loyalty. It is the love that acts, the compassion that restores, the kindness that keeps promises even to the undeserving. Mercy is not optional; it is required because God has been merciful to us. It is seen in the quiet work of restoration, in supporting those who have failed, in forgiving, and in providing for others without seeking credit.

Walking humbly with God means moving at God’s pace, under God’s authority, and in God’s direction. Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less. It is serving without seeking recognition, letting God’s word guide our decisions, and aligning our steps with God’s will. Justice, mercy, and humility are not electives or seasonal acts; they are the substance of a life that pleases God. God is not looking for our show, but for our soul. The invitation is to trade our bargains and negotiations for a better walk with God—a walk marked by justice in our hands, mercy in our hearts, and humility in our steps.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God desires transformation, not transaction. The people of Micah’s day tried to negotiate with God, offering increasingly extravagant sacrifices to avoid giving what God truly wanted: their hearts and their lives. God is not interested in our religious performances if they are not matched by lives of obedience and surrender. The call is to let go of bargaining and embrace a lifestyle that reflects God’s justice, mercy, and humility. [34:09]
• 2. Justice is the public face of love. Doing justice is not just about being fair; it is about actively setting right what is wrong, defending the exploited, and building structures that protect the vulnerable. Justice is not an emotion but an action, a holy refusal to let policy masquerade as righteousness. It is how we say thank you to God for the grace we have received, and it must be pursued even when it is costly or inconvenient. [48:23]
• 3. Mercy is covenant loyalty in action. Loving mercy means more than feeling compassion; it is a stubborn commitment to act with kindness and forgiveness, even when it is undeserved. Mercy is seen in the quiet, often unnoticed acts of restoration and support, in forgiving those who have wronged us, and in providing for others without seeking recognition. Mercy is required because God has been merciful to us, and it is how grace is made visible in our communities. [54:40]
• 4. Humility is alignment with God’s pace and purpose. Walking humbly with God is not about self-deprecation, but about letting God set the direction and speed of our lives. It means serving without seeking applause, resisting the urge to make ourselves the center, and allowing God’s word to guide our decisions. Humility transforms justice and mercy from occasional acts into daily habits, shaping a life that is in step with God. [59:57]
• 5. Justice, mercy, and humility are non-negotiable requirements. These are not seasonal or optional virtues, but the very substance of what God wants from us. They are the blueprint for a faith that is alive, active, and accountable. When we embody these qualities, our lives become a living sermon, preaching Micah 6:8 without a microphone, and inviting others to experience the transforming power of God’s love. [65:50]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [23:36] - The Blood Still Works
• [28:39] - Opening Prayer and Worship Reflections
• [30:41] - Reading Micah 6:6-8
• [32:08] - What God Really Wants
• [33:30] - God’s Indictment: Performance vs. Practice
• [35:27] - Injustice in Micah’s Day and Ours
• [38:33] - God Seeks Righteousness, Not Ritual
• [43:52] - Do Justice: God’s First Requirement
• [50:47] - Love Mercy: Covenant Loyalty in Action
• [58:06] - Walk Humbly: Moving at God’s Pace
• [63:12] - Trading Bargains for a Better Walk
• [65:08] - Living Out Micah 6:8
• [67:22] - Closing Prayer and Commitment
• [72:52] - Announcements and Communion Preparation
• [79:40] - Communion and Final Blessing

Bible Reading

Micah 6:6-8 (ESV) — > “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
> He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Observation Questions

1. According to Micah 6:6-8, what kinds of offerings do the people suggest bringing to God, and how does God respond to these suggestions?
2. In the sermon, what are some examples given of religious performance that God is not impressed by? ([34:09])
3. What three things does God require from His people, as stated in Micah 6:8?
4. How does the sermon describe the difference between “transaction” and “transformation” in our relationship with God? ([34:09])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does God reject extravagant sacrifices and religious rituals if they are not matched by lives of justice, mercy, and humility? ([34:09])
2. The sermon says, “Justice is the public face of love.” What does this mean, and how does it challenge the way we think about justice? ([48:23])
3. How does the sermon define “mercy” (hessed), and why is it described as a “stubborn, covenant loyalty” rather than just a feeling? ([50:47])
4. What does it look like to “walk humbly with your God” in everyday life, according to the sermon? ([59:57])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to trade our “bargains and negotiations” for a better walk with God. Are there ways you have tried to bargain with God instead of surrendering? What would it look like to let go of those bargains? ([34:09])
2. Think about your daily life—work, school, family, community. Where do you see opportunities to “do justice” in practical ways? What is one step you could take this week to set right something that is wrong or defend someone who is vulnerable? ([48:23])
3. The sermon describes mercy as “supporting those who have failed, forgiving, and providing for others without seeking credit.” Is there someone in your life who needs mercy from you right now? What would it look like to show them mercy, even if it’s hard or goes unnoticed? ([54:40])
4. Humility is described as “moving at God’s pace, under God’s authority, and in God’s direction.” Are there areas in your life where you are rushing ahead of God or lagging behind? How can you practice walking humbly this week? ([59:57])
5. The sermon says, “God is not looking for our show, but for our soul.” Are there areas where your faith has become more about outward performance than inward transformation? What is one way you can shift your focus back to what God really wants? ([38:33])
6. Justice, mercy, and humility are called “non-negotiable requirements.” Which of these three do you find most challenging to live out, and why? What support or accountability do you need from this group to grow in that area? ([01:05:50])
7. The sermon gives examples from history and today of people living out justice and mercy even when it was costly. Can you share a story—your own or someone else’s—where living out Micah 6:8 made a real difference? What did it cost, and what was the impact? ([36:43])