OK, I can’t really select one verse out of the whole Bible, but there’s one I turn to a lot when things seem to be getting complicated and stressful. It’s a reminder that the really important things are more simple than we often try to make them out to be. I mean, if our dealings with the Creator of the Universe can be distilled into this, how hard should it be to handle the other things (and people) in our lives?
The verse? Well, it comes from that oft-quoted Old Testament book of Micah (you were just reading Micah the other day, weren’t you?):
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. [NIV]
Here’s how the paraphrased “The Message” puts that last part: “Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously – take God seriously.”
How hard can that be?
The verse is Micah 6:8; you can read it in context here.
Thanks for that! Good timing.
I spoke that verse over both my boys as they left home for good. One of my favorites too. On the other hand they’re all my favorites.
If you count the other day as 6 months ago – sure, I was reading it the other day lol. Good verse!
Rob, sounds like a story there. And, Gene, no fair claiming all the verses in the Bible as your favorites!
Rachel, I’ll give you credit, even for six months ago. You Kiwis are on your on time schedule anyway. ;-
Just can’t help but notice the poetry God put in this verse. The answer is in the form of a haiku, 17 syllables:
To act justly and
To love mercy and to walk
Humbly with your God.
Let me drive this home with an amazing observation, made by Donald Grey Barnhouse:
“The shortest road to an understanding of the Bible is the acceptance of the fact that God is speaking in every line. ”
The creator of the universe is also the greatest poet of the universe. Micah was his scribe.
This Bible Haiku was posted on the Bible Haikus site on 29 April 2003.
Another favorite of mine, also a Bible Haiku:
Take delight in the LORD
And he will give you the
Desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 RSV (a complete verse)
peace,
“The shortest road to an understanding of the Bible is the acceptance of the fact that God is speaking in every line.”
Larry, not only is that a good reminder, but it’s also a timely word of caution to us when we choose to skip over or discount certain passages (or even entire books) as somehow being unimportant or irrelevant.
I also like the suggestion I once heard that the best way to study the Bible is to understand that every verse points in some way to Jesus, and to use this understanding as a basis for discovering the meaning of the verse.