Scripture in Action

Aneel Aranha is an author, preacher, and evangelist who has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. You can find a huge selection of his reflections, articles, sermons, songs and other resources on his app.

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Scripture in Action

Day 165

August 18, 2025 • Aneel Aranha • Season 3 • Episode 165

0:00 | 15:06

Explore God's call to faithful service through Micah 5-7 and Matthew 25, discovering how justice, mercy, and humble service prepare us for Christ's return.

Day 165 – What the Lord Requires

Micah 5–7
Matthew 25

Sooner or later every sincere heart asks the same question. What will it take to please God? Micah asks it out loud. Should I come with burnt offerings? With calves a year old? With thousands of rams, with rivers of oil, with my own firstborn? The answer is disarmingly simple. He has shown you what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Around that verse Micah sets two promises. A ruler will come out of Bethlehem Ephrathah, small among the clans of Judah, who will shepherd His flock and be their peace. And there is a God who pardons sin, delights to show mercy, and hurls our sins into the depths of the sea. Matthew 25 shows us what those requirements look like when the accounts are settled. Ten young women wait for a bridegroom, and half let their lamps run dry. A servant buries what he was given because he was afraid. And the King separates the nations not by their theology but by cups of water, meals shared, clothes given, prisoners visited.

These passages point us to one clear lesson. God has already told us what He wants. And our lives will be measured by whether we gave justice and mercy to the people right in front of us.

So how do we carry this into today?

First, choose one person who's easy to overlook. Feed them, visit them, or simply sit with them this week. Then keep it to yourself.

Second, look at one place where your own scales could be more honest. A bill. A claim. A report. A promise you made. Correct it.

Third, take one ability you've kept safely buried out of caution. Fear buried the servant's talent too. Put yours to work for God's purposes this month.

As you go through your day, remember this. Jesus receives what you give to the person everyone else walks past. So do for one overlooked person the small thing He says He'll one day count as done for Him.

Thank you for joining me today. May God give you a just heart, a merciful hand, and a humble walk beside Him. Until tomorrow, act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.