A Suitable Life

Micah 6:6 What can we bring to the LORD?
  What kind of offerings should we give him?
Should we bow before God
  with offerings of yearling calves?
7 Should we offer him thousands of rams
  and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
  to pay for our sins?

8 No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good,
  and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
  and to walk humbly with your God. (NLT)

God has given each of us a life purpose.  My current struggle is that I’m not especially happy with the purpose that God has planned for me right now.  There, I said it.  I’m not perfect.  I don’t have it all together.  I struggle.  I argue with God and tell Him that I think my plan is better, or I want a different choice.  Sort of like, “no, I want the red popcicle, not the purple one; or I want a creamcicle instead.”

What is a suitable life?  What really does God want from each of us who claim to have given Him back control of the lives that He already owns, and whom He sent His only Son, Jesus, to buy us back from sin and hell?  The prophet says here that, in a nutshell, we are to do what is right (seek justice), to love mercy (to look for ways to show kindness and love), and to walk humbly with God (cling to Him, be in relationship with Him through reading — and obeying — His Word, and talking — and listening — to Him in prayer).

God is not impressed with how many people attend a workshop I am teaching, or that the classroom or auditorium is filled with people waiting to listen to me teach.  For me, teaching is easy.  I can just give a lecture, say some encouraging words, and walk away.  Walking humbly with God means numerous one-on-one conversations with a woman struggling with forgiveness after a lifetime of abuse and hurt.  Providing short-term housing to a mom and small children who are leaving a physically violent husband.  Mentoring young women who want to be godly wives and mothers. 

Walking humbly with God means being willing to be where He is — everywhere that He is.  Walking humbly with God means being content with the life He has given me, and with the task He has given me to fulfill.  Even if that “task” is to be content and satisfied and joyful in God despite constant pain and exhaustion.

God, in this season of my life, has ordained that my “suitable life” be one of prayer, of writing, of studying, and of encouraging and mentoring others.  It’s not so much an active, “doing” life; it’s more of a “being” life, a life of relationship more than activity; of silence more than noise; of quiet conversation more than large-group lecture.  Writing this is helping me see that my life truly is full and meaningful.  It’s different from what it was 10 years ago, but I’m different from who I was 10 years ago.  My life is full and meaningful because I have God, and He is my treasure; He is my joy; He gives my life meaning.