Words of Grace

By Rev. Mahlon Nevel

There is an often quoted verse written by one of the minor prophets named Micah. The verse tells us what the Lord requires of us: “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” (6:8).

The Moody Bible Commentary points out that this verse is a summary of the Old Testament law. To do justly means to be righteous and good. To love mercy means to be merciful in kind. To walk humbly means to be humble in lowly.

This describes the life of Jesus, “who went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). He showed his merciful kindness everywhere he went. He humbled himself to become a servant and was “meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29).

Jesus did something for us that we failed to do. He kept the law perfectly. He said that he did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. (Matthew 5:7)

And fulfill it he did. Then he who knew no sin became sin for us sinners on the cross. He gave us his righteousness and he took away all our sin. (II Corinthians 5:21)

Helen Steiner Rice writes about someone who is like Jesus in the world.

“In this busy world it’s refreshing to find someone who still has the time to be kind;
Someone who still has the faith to believe;
That the more you give, the more you receive;
Someone who’s ready by thought, word or deed
To reach out a hand in the hour of need.”