Listen closely and you can hear it—an imaginary conversation between God and His people Israel. They wanted to know what, in our most private thoughts, we want to know too: “How much is enough?” and “Am I acceptable to You, God?”

Israel asked innocently enough, “With what shall I come before the LORD?” (Micah 6:6), but then escalated to the heights of hyperbole:

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? (6:7)

It was as if they were pleading, “Is that good enough? Is that the formula? Is that what You expect from us?”

Because God loved them, He gave them—and us—in one perfect statement what He expects. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (6:8).

Israel was focused on their “to do” list, when God was focused on their hearts. Loving, just people who walk humbly with Him is what God really wants.

Israel wanted a formula, and so do we—just tell us what to do. But God desires friendship over formulas, and that’s why He invites us to walk humbly with Him. When we walk with God, more focused on His love than on our list, the natural outgrowth is just and loving actions. And that’s what God desires because that is what brings us the most blessing.

More than a list of sacrifices performed for Him, God wants a life shared personally with Him. Accept His invitation to walk humbly with Him today.