Inward change, outward result

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,[b] and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

The passages in the book of Micah talks about how God will not listen to the cries of his people, because their lives have been filled with sin and wickedness. And here he asked what does God require of them. Thinking that God would require a number of sacrifices and burnt offerings, as if by paying they can merit the favor of God. Here the heart of God was being revealed. He requires people to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly before God. All of these are attitudes of the heart. Things that can not simply be done by following orders. These can be done when the heart is changed. A changed heart will administer and pursue justice. A changed heart will love kindness and not insist his/her rights. A changed heart will walk obediently and humbly before God. God was not after outward acts of obedience... He wants his people to humble themselves and change their ways. In this manner the inner change will result in outward results. Same with the circumcision of heart. God is not after rules and regulations. He is after a changed heart. 3 December