In Albury-Wodonga, the weekly free newspapers used to include a column of reflections. They were written by local  ministers, or similar (authors included a local Baha’i leader, as well as someone from the local humanist society branch). I don’t know why they stopped. Equally, I don’t know if they achieved anything!

Cleaning up my computer, I found a few of mine. In the interests of recycling, I will re-release them on this blog.

Here is one of the Bible’s most famous statements, from the book of Micah:
‘He has told you, O man, 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?’

This is over 2700 year old! But it’s still as fresh as a gentle spring breeze.

It is worth pausing for a couple of minutes to see what Micah means.

Firstly, justice is for everyone. All people are to do justice: men and women, young and old. It is easy to think justice is only about police, judges and politicians. God speaks to the individual (‘O, man’) and says: look after your neighbour, sister, workmate, everyone.

Secondly, this type of life ultimately flows from God himself. ‘Kindness’ supremely is from the Lord. He is patient, forgiving and truthful.

Fortunately God can work all sorts of good things in our world. But the only truly just individual is one who walks humbly with God. The one who trusts God is the one who learns to live like God.

This sounds tough. It is tough!

Except for a gift – a Christmas gift.

Micah’s other famous words are about Christmas and Jesus. ‘But you, O Bethlehem, from you shall come one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.’ No doubt these words will crop up again in a few weeks when we remember Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.

Where do we best see God’s kindness? In Jesus, of course. It is in Jesus that God is patient, forgiving and truthful.

How can we learn justice and kindness? In Jesus, of course.

Jesus is the way to have life, and Jesus is the way to live life.
November 2005