In the fallout of the election many of us are wondering what our place is, in this situation what does God require of us?
How does God want me to respond?
I've been asking god this question and He led me to Micah 6:8:
“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?”
The situation itself may be complex, but God’s direction isn’t.
Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. These three things are entangled. We can’t just detach them; they are only separated by commas as part of a list in one clear sentence. They are to be done in tandem. When you do a tandem jump out of an airplane, you are strapped to your instructor so that you can’t get separated. These three directions from God are to function in tandem, they aren’t meant to be separated.
Let’s identify each of them individually so we can see how they work together.
Just is biblically defined as righteous. actual, real, or genuine. The only person who is completely just is God himself. We are his image bearers on earth, so we are to bear the image of justice to the world. We are to seek what is righteous and real. We are to seek and speak the truth. The truth is our business. The light of the Holy Spirit himself gives us this knowledge, but not as a weapon to beat people with, rather as a tool to build each other up, to grow each other up in Christ (Ephesians 4). That is very different than flattery that builds up egos. Growing in Christ involves truth that cause change in the heart.
Desiring and working for a fair election falls under justice for both sides. We should want the election process to be honest, or we fail to remain a democracy.
We are also to love kindness. The truth without kindness will not be realized. It might be heard when spoken loudly, but it certainly doesn’t change hearts. Kindness wants what is best for others, it doesn’t want them left in the dark. Kindness seeks justice. Kindness and the Truth can walk hand in hand, but only in tandem with humility.
Walking humbly with God is like a child holding their parents hand. I walk as close as I can to God which keeps me in His shadow where I remember how little I am and how big He is. It reminds me of what I do not know. Galatians 5:25 tells us that we are to walk by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit. The steady pressure of His hand keeps me in step, not running ahead or lagging behind Him. This humility gives me a better vantage point to receive wisdom.
These three things: justice, kindness, and humility work as checks and balances in our life. They should be so intertwined that they can’t be separated. Walking humbly with our God creates a space for justice and kindness to go hand in hand.
Make no mistake, God is just and misses nothing. His purposes will be served through whatever government is established.
“There is no authority except that which God has established.
The authorities that exist have been established by God”
Romans 13:1
Our part as light bearers is to penetrate the darkness, a large part of the way we can do that is prayer. Pray for justice, pray for kindness, and then walk them out under the shadow of God’s mighty hand.
Please pray. Pray long, pray hard and be assured that God is not napping, He is weaving His plan. He wants us to trust Him.
His kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.