I’ve read Micah 6:8 more times than I can count and could probably come close to quoting it word for word:

He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (NIV).

But last week one portion of this verse kept coming to mind: love mercy... love mercy… love mercy… What does it mean to love mercy? Have I automatically substituted “show mercy” for “love mercy” in this scripture? Is there a difference? I think there is, though I don’t fully understand it.

Over the past month or so, we’ve found ourselves in a situation where the Holy Spirit is prompting us to extend mercy, rather than stepping back to let someone suffer the consequences of their poor choices. While I’m cautious about doing this because, if done repeatedly, it can keep people from learning valuable lessons, I believe it’s God’s plan in this case. Carrying it out has included going beyond the call of duty lovingly, cheerfully… again and again and again. Saying yes with a smile when it would have been more convenient to say no. As we walk it out, I keep hearing: love mercy.

As I’ve researched the concept of loving mercy, I’m finding that much has been written about applying it to social causes, but not a great deal about applying it to our daily lives. Sometimes it’s easier to apply God’s Word to a “cause” than to allow Him to apply it to our hearts in ordinary situations.

As I choose to keep my heart attitude right as I go the second mile for those who may not seem to deserve it, I sense God’s smile of approval and I come closer to understanding what it means to love mercy─or as the Contemporary English Version says, I come closer to understanding what it means to “let mercy be [my] first concern.” (To be continued…)

Father, give us hearts like yours, the One who perfectly balances doing justly and loving mercy. Enable us to walk humbly with you. Amen.