One Sunday our pastor taught us there are three spiritual conduct checkpoints given to us by God through Micah. Spiritual checkpoints are just as important as annual health checkups.

When spirituality goes stale and basic human decency disappears, we need daily spiritual checkups.

I know that God is interested in our hearts and how we relate to one another. He expresses this through  Micah in chapter 6 of Micah’s book. God appeals to us, forget all else and work on our hearts for Him. Read it here: v. 8 “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.” Therefore, Spiritual conduct.

 3 Spiritual checkpoints:

1.  Act justly– all have a right to fairness in their job and personal relationships. Unfair practices to anyone brings pain to the bearer and malicious intent from the doer. Since God is a just God by character, it is only fair that He demands it from us. Any unjust reasoning goes against everything the Bible teaches, plus it springs back. The Bible is filled with sins and circumstances people lived in, and it offers justification for them all. When people failed to treat others fairly, it displeased God then as it does today.  I have experienced that feeling of conviction when I was unfair to others. Look in the mirror and make the decision to right wrongs and practice righteous justice. I know I will too.

2. Love mercy – One of the reasons I love mercy is because goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives (Psalm 23). The mercy given to us will never go away.  Showing mercy is one of the most loving things we can do to serve others as God requires. How often has He granted us mercy? For me, just the thought of how loving God is and how many times he has forgiven us makes mercy humbling and amazing.  When we are then immersed in anger, unfairness, and hate, it is difficult to show mercy, let alone love it.  But, that is what God requires us to do. Love mercy. I love mercy because mercy and grace are key to my livelihood, and eternity. I do not believe mercy is weakness. I believe mercy is strength and power. It takes strength to decide offer mercy, and power to exhibit it. That is another reason I love mercy.  In some situations mercy challenges me to express my character of compassion.

3. Walk humbly with God– My pastor went on to say that our lives should be a walk we are never ashamed to answer for. Kindness, goodness, and an unselfish attitude should be in our conduct.  I ask myself if I am manifesting God in my daily conduct, or am I interacting with others as the Bible instructs me.  I cannot in any way think I am any better than others, nor are they any more adept than me. The goal is to display kindness, gentleness, honesty, and selflessness in interactions.  Dishonoring my character is not one of my goals, and I trust it is not yours. Slaying my good conduct is not on my agenda either.  Disagreements are inevitable and how we treat them is the key.

Those are the three spiritual conduct checkpoints given to us. When we look around, do we see them at work in us, or others? As with much in the Bible, the instructions are clear, it is just a matter of deciding to embrace them and make the changes needed to act upon them. It is a personal decision that should not be difficult, but for some it is.

Spiritual conduct checkpoints allow personal focus on us instead of others’ spiritual illnesses. I am responsible for me and my heart, so I have to prepare for my spirituality, not yours. Yet, we are to serve each other in spiritual growth. One way to comply is to visit these three spiritual checkpoints each morning before we start the day. A brief examination will prescribe what we need to apply to refresh our spirit.

Spiritual conduct and wellness checkpoints allow personal Spiritual wellness checkpoints allow personal focus on us instead of others’ spiritual illnesses. I am responsible for me and my heart. I have to prepare for my spirituality, not yours, yet we are to serve each other in spiritual  growth. One way to comply is to visit these three spiritual checkpoints each morning before we start the day. A brief examination will prescribe what we need to apply to refresh our spirit.

As I review Micah 6:8 again, I wonder if our society has become like the Israelites’ society? You see, after God delivered them from the Egyptians, they became spiritually blind, and forgetting His mercy. All God wanted, like for us, was their hearts to demonstrate love and compassion toward each other and Him. The Israelites had become complacent and they had a feeling of entitlement.

Those of us who see society so misguided and so torn also see that we need a spiritual revival and in that revival, multiple healings in our land. I wonder if God can count on us to act as His disciples who build our own characters as we attempt to share His characteristics? What do you think?