What is Required?

As Christian leaders, we may experience the pressure of unrealistic expectations from those we lead. At times we feel we are expected to be popular, have the right answer, excel in every spiritual gift, and succeed in every ministry effort. When these expectations occur, we may unknowingly give more attention to results and neglect the most important requirements of all—the ones God established.

How can we know what God requires of us? Should we simply guess and hope we get it right? Thankfully, He answered this question with extreme clarity through the prophet Micah: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NIV, emphasis added).

Let us take a close look at these Divine expectations:

Act Justly

To “act justly” speaks of personal responsibility. To help us understand the word “justly,” here are a few synonyms: rightly, honestly, honorably, and truthfully. Simply stated, to “act justly” is to live right. We should:

• pay for what we consume,
• respond honestly in every situation,
• show respect to those in authority,
• abide by the laws of the land, and
• work diligently—even when no one is looking.

Love Mercy

We demonstrate that we “love mercy” in several ways. One way is through gratitude—we should be continually thankful for the unmerited favor God extends to us, and be careful to never take His mercy for granted! Another demonstration is extending this same mercy to others. We make it clear that we “love mercy” when we:

• forgive those who have wronged us,
• respond patiently with those who others label as incompetent,
• refuse to be harsh and critical of others who are younger or less experienced,
• gently restore those who are caught in sin, and
• share God’s mercy with people who are far from Him.

Walk Humbly with Your God

“Walking with God” speaks of a daily, moment-by-moment experience. What an incredible privilege to walk with the Creator of the universe! Humility is the only genuine response to this awareness. Pride can be very difficult to detect in ourselves, but we can purposefully nurture the humility He requires when we:

• listen continually for His still, small voice,
• obey His gentle nudging to serve and love others,
• respond submissively—even in the most menial task,
• do our very best with every responsibility He places in our life, and
• give Him all praise and glory.

When we are careful to live according to His requirements, we don’t have to worry about the outcome. Our eternal reward is defined by obedience, not results, for only God can bring the increase. Let’s strive to please God—to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God—and then leave the rest up to Him.

God has opened many doors for KERRY CLARENSAU, which have prepared her for her current position as Leadership Development Coordinator for the national Women’s Ministries Department. Kerry has served the Kansas District in different ministry roles and as national Missionettes Coordinator. Under her leadership the current Mpact girls clubs (formerly Missionettes) program was developed in 1998. She has also served as women’s pastor at Maranatha Worship Center in Wichita, Kansas, where her husband serves as senior pastor. She is a Bible teacher, writer, wife, mother and much more. Her role as pastor’s wife is instrumental in developing effective leadership resources for the local church.