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 So often we try and make following God more difficult than it is. We think His ways are so mysterious and get frustrated when we don't know exactly what to do. This verse helps us to stop and look at what God wants from us. We are to do what is right. The Hebrew also translates what is just, what is proper or fitting. We can always look at the Bible and see things that we know are right or wrong. If it is gossiping it is wrong. Coveting- wrong. Sleeping with someone else's spouse- wrong. When we are trying to figure out what God wants we can be assured He wants us to do things that are right. Our conscience helps us to know if something is right, although it is possible to sear our conscience and convince it that what we want is what is right. Always go back to the Word. 

We can also know that God wants us to love and show mercy. Mercy is lovingkindness, goodness, and pity. I think this is one that many Christians are getting wrong today. We are quick to say what we think is right, but we forget to act in mercy when we say it. We think because we "know" it or it is what we were taught, we are right and others are wrong. And if we are right we like to make sure that everyone else knows we are right and we look down and treat others badly who aren't like us. I have found the last several years when I take the time to have kindness and pity towards people, it shapes the way I treat them. It doesn't mean I excuse sin, but it does mean I love them despite the sin. When I take the time to look at the hurt that they have experienced. When I see the bondage they are trapped in, it helps me to show them God's mercy and love and actually draw them closer to the Father who has mercy on me.

Finally, we need to walk humbly with our God. We need to remember that we are not perfect ourselves. We need to realize that we are not always right. When we always see ourselves as better than other people, that is a good sign that we are not walking humbly. We are the most humble when we are the closest to God. The more time you spend in the Word, praying, praising it will help to illuminate the areas where pride may be sneaking in. When we are humble and not proud we will remember what we have been saved from and be forever grateful. When we think we deserve to be shown mercy and forgiven then we begin walking near God, but not walking with God.

This verse won't tell us exactly what God wants us to do in each situation. It doesn't specify which job to take, which house to buy, which friends to have, but it can give us guidelines to put us in the right direction. This week let's do right, let's show mercy, and let's be humble as we walk with God.

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