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. Micah 6:8
What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?
A news organization asked people about the best piece of advice they’d ever received. Some responses were practical: “When your 100-pound [dog] takes off after a squirrel, drop the leash so you don’t end up with a broken arm.” Others were meaningful: “Nothing is ever as good as you think it will be or as bad as you fear.”[1]
What kind of advice do you think God would give us? If you assume that God’s advice would center on religious performance you’re not alone. People have long assumed that about God. God’s spokesperson named Micah wrote, “Know, 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” (Micah 6:8). God isn’t asking for more rituals, bigger sacrifices, or outward displays. He called people to a life of faith expressed in everyday life—He’s calling us to a different way of life.
When God says, “Do what is right,” He’s telling us that He cares about justice toward others. Maybe your coworker is blamed for a mistake they didn’t make. Rather than just staying out of it, you stick up for them. Loving mercy could mean when your spouse is exhausted, out of sorts and speaks sharply to you, you let it go. Hardest of all might be walking humbly with God. When things go poorly, do we stay centered on His goodness and purpose for our lives, letting that awareness shape our decisions, reactions and prayers?
God’s best advice isn’t about trying harder—it’s about living differently, with justice toward others, mercy in your heart, and humility before Him.
[1] Melissa Kirsch, “The Morning,” The New York Times (newsletter), December 27, 2025, https://nytimes.com/newsletters/the-morning.
