“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” –Micah 6:8

Expectations and requirements are important in a relationship. It has proven advantageous in my life to respect both. When going out at night with friends, my father had an expectation that I “be good.” The rules had been previously established, boundaries set, and preferred behavior explained. To act in a way that proved otherwise may lead to consequences, a stricter curfew, and disappointment (which sometimes felt like the worst punishment).

To go with that, my mother had one requirement: check in. It was before the days of cell phones, so there was some effort involved, but if I called with the location of our whereabouts and  a general description of what we were up to, all was good. Expectations and requirements matter, and when they are met, covenant is upheld. Mom would go back to sleep, save the worry for another day and good graces remained.

We continue to be in an active relationship with God, and as the Bible reminds, there are requirements for us to keep. Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God says the Prophet Micah. In the gospels, Jesus reveals the greatest commandment is to love. Love God first and then love your neighbor as you wish to be loved.

As the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) we hold these passages to be foundational to our existence as the body of Christ. As a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world we accept the expectations placed upon us to set a course to live with the compassion of Jesus. I look forward to joining you at the table Sunday, as we remind ourselves to love in remembrance of Christ.

Brett