What do you look for in a person you want to be with these days?  I look for someone who is pleasant, smiles, looks me in the eyes with compassion, loves without conditions, listens, and speaks truth.  Typically, these are trustworthy people.  These people are precious to me and to God. Generally, these are people who trust God.  I trust God.  Therefore, we can trust each other because of our love for God. 

I don’t know what you are looking for in a person to learn from, hang around and enjoy life with, but I’m pretty simple.  I just want others to love me back even though I’m not perfect in every way.  I want to love and be loved, thought about and prayed for on good days and especially on challenging days.  I enjoy praying for others so they can see the glory of God at work in their lives as well as in mine. 

So, where does this longing of belonging and loving come from?  It comes from our Creator.  We are created with the longing to love and relate to God.  When we realize in our growing, intimate relationship with God how much He loves compassionately and unconditionally, we begin to be like Him in our love for each other.  Our love takes on his character in all ways as our love deepens for Him.

And this is what God is looking for—love for Him and love for others.  Jesus taught us that this love for God and for others are the two most important commandments (our expected behavior) delivered from God.  Our love for God that begins with God is expressed in a variety of ways.  Micah narrows the field of understanding of this love and how to respond to it in verse 8, one of my favorites and most quoted verses in the Bible.  Do justice—love mercy—walk humbly with God. 

Micah 6, The Message

^1-2 Listen now, listen to God:

“Take your stand in court.
    If you have a complaint, tell the mountains;
    make your case to the hills.
And now, Mountains, hear God’s case;
    listen, Jury Earth—
For I am bringing charges against my people.
    I am building a case against Israel.

^3-5 “Dear people, how have I done you wrong?
    Have I burdened you, worn you out? Answer!
I delivered you from a bad life in Egypt;
    I paid a good price to get you out of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you—
    and Aaron and Miriam to boot!
Remember what Balak king of Moab tried to pull,
    and how Balaam son of Beor turned the tables on him.
Remember all those stories about Shittim and Gilgal.
    Keep all God’s salvation stories fresh and present.”

^6-7 How can I stand up before God
    and show proper respect to the high God?
Should I bring an armload of offerings
    topped off with yearling calves?
Would God be impressed with thousands of rams,
    with buckets and barrels of olive oil?
Would he be moved if I sacrificed my firstborn child,
    my precious baby, to cancel my sin?

* * *

⁸ But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,
    what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
    be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
    take God seriously.

⁹ Attention! God calls out to the city!
    If you know what’s good for you, you’ll listen.
So listen, all of you!
    This is serious business.

* * *

^10-16 “Do you expect me to overlook obscene wealth
    you’ve piled up by cheating and fraud?
Do you think I’ll tolerate shady deals
    and shifty scheming?
I’m tired of the violent rich
    bullying their way with bluffs and lies.
I’m fed up. Beginning now, you’re finished.
    You’ll pay for your sins down to your last cent.
No matter how much you get, it will never be enough—
    hollow stomachs, empty hearts.

No matter how hard you work, you’ll have nothing to show for it—
    bankrupt lives, wasted souls.
You’ll plant grass
    but never get a lawn.
You’ll make jelly
    but never spread it on your bread.
You’ll press apples
    but never drink the cider.
You have lived by the standards of your king, Omri,
    the decadent lifestyle of the family of Ahab.
Because you’ve slavishly followed their fashions,
    I’m forcing you into bankruptcy.
Your way of life will be laughed at, a tasteless joke.
    Your lives will be derided as futile and fake.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Micah also expresses what God is NOT looking for in us with what disgusts Him causing Him to put a stop to what is destroying our relationship with God.  Micah knew that sacrifices were outward expressions of inner faith and trust. What God desired most of all was for Israel to relate to him in a heartfelt, personal way—not just in some superficial, ritualistic fashion. 

If our grown children and grandchildren only came to visit us because they felt it was their obligation to do, put a time limit on the visit of one hour, then left gifts because it made them feel like they had fulfilled their requirements us to us, we would know it and feel little to no love from them.  These actions would be unkind and devastating to our relationship.

Real, honest, love, God’s love, should drive every thought and action.  Sincere hearts full of the love from God back to God is what He is looking for—just as parents long to have their children love them back for no other reason, but love for them.  It’s not about the gifts but the longing to spend time with the One who loves you most.  It’s about loving each other like He loves us. 

“The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”  2 Chronicles 16:9

God’s love in us, loving Him back with committed hearts, prompts the flow of God’s benefits that He is longing to give to us!  God gives strength, power, wisdom, insight, understanding that produces His compassion for others in us, guidance around or through the tough stuff of life—not to mention provisions enough and protection from the enemy! 

Now we know what God is looking for in us—what are we looking for in life?  Who do we really believe?  Who do we follow?  Who has the best for us?  Who loves us so much He laid down is life for us so we could be free from sin?  The answers to these questions will be shown by our hearts and reflected in our behaviors.

Lord,

What you really want is a personal relationship, not an external connection only. May my life today, all of it, imperfections, and all, be an offering to you today.  I love you with all my heart, mind, and soul.  Cleanse my heart of all that does not belong, renew and transform my mind to think more like you, refresh my soul with Your power and strength and restore the joy of your salvation at work within me.  Then I will be able to love more like you love me—with mercy and grace.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen