Justice, kindness, and humility

Justice, kindness, and humility. Justice, kindness, and humility.

Key points

• 9 Ole Miss and Kewan Lacy head to Vanderbilt with Jared Curtis trying to return.
• Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians receives $12 million in federal grants to expand economic development drivers.
• The Lord, through Micah, tells us first to "do justice." This means a commitment to act in accord with God's will and purpose.
• Huntington Bank investing over $40 million to modernize Tupelo operations center, regional headquarters.
• Newton himself commented, "There is hardly any one passage in the Bible more generally misunderstood." His sermon title, it seems, was aimed at correcting the common misunderstandings.

Justice, kindness, and humility. Justice, kindness, and humility. By: Alistair Begg – October 12, 2026.

He has informed 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? – Micah 6: 8.

When John Newton, the eighteenth-century hymn writer and pastor, preached on this verse, he entitled his sermon "No Access to God but by the Gospel of Christ." Why would he employ a title that seems to lack any connection to the verse?! Newton himself commented, "There is hardly any one passage in the Bible more generally misunderstood." His sermon title, it seems, was aimed at correcting the common misunderstandings.

As a means of access to God, newton's title alerts us to the danger of reading the virtues described here and then attempting to live them out without the gospel, or proclaiming them in place of the gospel. Neither of these does justice to what the prophet-and the Lord-intended. The best way to understand Micah 6: 8 is not as a list of things that contribute to our justification but as evidences of our justification. When we view it this way, with the proper motivation and goals established, we can understand what the Lord was calling Israel, and is calling us, to do.

Meanwhile, the Lord, through Micah, tells us first to "do justice." This means a commitment to act in accord with God's will and purpose. For example, in Deuteronomy, Moses notes that God "executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing" (Deuteronomy 10: 18). We want to care regarding the things God cares concerning. It means taking such priorities seriously, seeking to "do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6: 10).

Second, the Lord tells us to "love kindness." If doing justice is the action, then loving kindness is the heart attitude that fuels it. It's warm-hearted compassion, ensuring that we pursue justice not as a performance of some duty but as a glad action of benevolence.

Third, we are to "walk humbly." In other words, we are to walk in submission to God's will, embracing our utter dependence on Him every step of the way. Why does Micah end this verse with humility? Since humility is what is required to acknowledge that we do not perfectly obey the call to love kindness and do justice-and so we need the Lord's forgiveness and not just His commands, first. Since even as we do obey Him in the way Micah 6: 8 calls us to, the fruitfulness of our labors is ultimately not up to us, and second.

You and I cannot fix the world; we must instead entrust the solution to the world's King and Judge. Doing so both motivates and sustains us, with God's support, to live out the gospel that has saved us, through expressions of justice, kindness, and humility, for the good of our neighbors, for the witness of the church, and for the glory of Christ. Throughout the centuries, Micah calls you today to reflect humbly on your need for the gospel, to look to your heart and ask the Spirit to grow it in Christlike kindness, and then to look to your world and actively pursue fairness and justice.

Regarding the Author(s).

Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975. After graduation from The London School of Theology, he served eight years in Scotland at both Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh and Hamilton Baptist Church. In 1983, he became the senior pastor at Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. He has written a number of books and is heard daily and weekly on the radio program, Truth For Life. His Daily Devotionals are presented here via a syndication agreement. Faith Alistair Begg October 8, 2026.

For in His word God promises that our weakness plus God's strength is sufficient for any task He calls us to. More From This Author. Faith Alistair Begg October 7, 2026. Vengeance is the Lord's. Faith Alistair Begg October 6, 2026. Be honest with yourself. Faith Alistair Begg October 5, 2026. Worshipping through trial and toil. Faith Matt Friedeman October 11, 2026. The athletes of God. Faith Matt Friedeman October 5, 2026. Paralyzed by fear? Jesus has an answer for that.

In practice, the story of the paralyzed man should obtain us responding to the One with authority. Faith Alistair Begg October 2, 2026.

As individuals who have been set free by the blood of Christ, we are meant to shine. There should be a glory regarding those who know Jesus. News Frank Corder October 9, 2026. Hyde-Smith, Guest, Ezell among congressional members urging investigation into Planned Parenthood. News Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press October 9, 2026. Americans 75 and older are wealthiest age group, Fed survey finds. News Jeremy Pittari October 9, 2026.

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians receives $12 million in federal grants to expand economic development drivers. Business Cass Rutledge October 7, 2026.

Huntington Bank investing over $40 million to modernize Tupelo operations center, regional headquarters. Business Cass Rutledge October 6, 2026. Westwin Elements investing $502 million to establish nickel refinery in Natchez. Business Cass Rutledge October 2, 2026. Gasifier manufacturer Janus Organization bringing 13 jobs to Greenwood. Culture Susan Marquez October 9, 2026. Award-winning Nashville country singer-songwriter brings high-energy performance to Downtown Greenville. Culture Alistair Begg October 9, 2026. Putting the pieces together. Culture Teresa M. Walker, Associated Press October 8, 2026.

No. 9 Ole Miss and Kewan Lacy head to Vanderbilt with Jared Curtis trying to return. Opinion Roger Wicker October 9, 2026. Permit reform act is a much-needed course correction. Opinion Delbert Hosemann October 8, 2026. Hosemann: It is time for Mississippi to ban all kratom products. Opinion Sid Salter October 7, 2026.

Growing calls to suspend or eliminate federal and state gas taxes have consequences.

Taken together, the developments around justice, kindness, and humility point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.