Where possible, one should always employ proper accreditation, so (although UCC types may already know) Alex's video features music by Jim Strathdee, and can be found in Voices United at #701.

As to Alex's question, if right belief motivates us towards right action, then that will allow us to do what God requires - to do justice, love kindness (and to go  a step beyond the song, to show it as well, if that isn't already implied), and to do so humbly (because what we give will simply be a measure of what we have received). 

I love this song- but i think it's got things backwards.

For me, God is love and community- God's love comes first, no requirements attached-

like a good parent loves the kids no matter what the do and what they are. But once we grasp a bit of that, it enables us to seek justice, love kindness and walk humble, because we can. (and don't need to be someone or something else).

If someone doesn't get that right and tries to be all that without being centred, seeking justice can turn into wanting to be right, loving kindness can turn into humiliating others with charity -and needing to present oneself as a "good christian" would be the opposite of walking humbly.

Here is the text for non-UCCer:

What does the Lord require of you?

To seek justice, and love kindness and walk humbly with your God.

I believe all my God requires is faith in Jesus. As long as you accept him asthe only constant in your life, everything else will follow.

 ^"Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." - John 6: 28-29 (NIV)

If you love God, you will love his creation. The golden rule, environmentalism, fight for social justice all these are form to show love for his creation therefore love for God.

 The song lyrics are from Micah 6:8

      What does the LORD require of you
         But to do justice, to love kindness,
         And to walk humbly with your God

 God "requires" nothing of us.  God's love is unconditional.

Alex - I love that song and keep Micah 6:8 framed on my wall.

I think it helps sometimes to see it in context - the writer is saying you can knock yourself out with all the sacrifices and offerings that you can afford, - go through all the motions that you want - but all God wants is justice, kindness and humility:

⁶ With what shall I come before the LORD
       and bow down before the exalted God?
       Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
       with calves a year old?

 ⁷ Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
       with ten thousand rivers of oil?
       Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
       the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

 ⁸ He has showed you, O man, 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.

I agree with qwerty; I think God requires nothing of us. But I think and feel that God slumbers in us in mute yearning—yearning to be awakened, to be experienced, acknowledged, and acted upon.

I see the question as a two part:  what God gives, and what God requires.  God's grace (love) is for all; our response to that love freely given is to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. 

Very well put Seeler.

In the Bible we read that we are saved by grace.  That works alone will not save us - not right actions, not right beliefs.  We are saved by God's grace, God's unconditional love, freely given.

We also read that faith without works is dead.  Our 'works' are in response to that grace, that love.  God gives, we respond in humility to give back something of what we have received.

God wants me to be what He made me. He wants me to do no harm.

Hi Alex,

What does God require of me in particular and us in general?

I've heard that we have been called to be perfect just as our Father in heaven is perfect.  I don't think any of us can do that.

My belief might be right but it would never be perfectly right.

My actions might be right but they would never be perfectly right.

And it wouldn't really matter what those actions or beliefs were since I can never hope to perfectly do or believe in them.

If God is demanding anything of me in particular or us in general it had better be something incredibly insignificant and easy.  Otherwise, God is apt to be seriously disappointed.

If God is not demanding anything but rather hinting at what God would like to see then I think we can, in our best intentioned yet half-assed ways offer something that might strike God's fancy.

I may not be able to love God or neighbour perfectly and yet, maybe the effort to love is more than enough to put a smile on God's face.

Whatever merit I might have falls well short of perfection.

I don't know what God requires of us.  I do know what I have need of from God.

Grace and peace to you.

John

 God is available for a relationship IMHO, and that is stated or implied in most peoples answers.

So maybe the question should be, what is the best way we can be in relationship with our God?

I usually find that having a conversation with God, rather than praying at God, usually helps with building that relationship.

Too many people treat prayer as a shopping list, IMHO.

In Micha 6:8 we read that God requires that we "do justice, love kindness (mercy) and walk humbly with our God."

In Matt. 22 we read that the greatest commandment is to love God and our fellow human beings.  We also read that all of the law and the commandments are based on this.

In Matt 25 there is the parable of the judgment:  clothe the naked, feed the hungry, care for the sick and dying etc.  Then we read that if we have done that we have done it to Jesus and are welcomed into the kingdom.

In Acts 11 we read that "all are acceptable."  Those are all internally consistent.

BTW the word translated to faith, ought to have rightly been translated as trust.  It is not about right belief but about transforming relationship.  This last of course comes from several scholars.

Shalom

Mate

I am so happy to see the verses from Micha posted here by so many!

When I use love ..... true basic love .... as the base ...this sums it up for me...

I really try to live this and I feel that it has made a wonderful difference in my heart, my attitude, and my actions....

I am so very glad that I have met so many other here that are on a similar spiritual journey.   To me the spiritual is not complete until my feet touch the earth and I participate and make a difference here....

Hugs

Rita

I agree, Witch.  Just don't get too wrapped up in the conversation while driving.  It's almost like talking on a cellular phone.  At least for some of us mentioning no names.

I have reported rian

now then ch, maybe rian was simply enlightening us that god demands we buy (knockoff???) high end fashion merchandise

Hi GordW,

Doubtful.  The Devil Wears Prada.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Crazyheart - here I thought by getting up early I would be the first to file the report.

I'll bet you were up late last night and caught it while I was fast asleep in my little log home in the east.

I concur..............

Hugs

Rita

seeler, didn't you hear me singing,"These boots are made for walking."

I make a distinction between "requires" and "wants" because I don't think there is any requirement at all.  God wants me to be myself fully and to reach out to others in kindess when possible.  

I like Mists point that an all-loving God doesn't 'require' anything of us to love us and accept us. I think like any good parent or friend, however you conceive of the Holy, God requires us to do nothing more than our best - be it in action or belief. If you can honestly look back on your days and say 'Lord, I did my best', God will accept that with open heart and open arms. And on those days, which we all have, where our best eludes us, even then God understands us, accepts us, and is the strength through which we get back on the horse tomorrow, if we let him(her) be.

My God requires absolutely nothing of me.   It freeing to be an atheist and have no responsibilities.

You.  Are.  Not.  An.  Atheist.

You are, by your own admissions, "mad at God".  That's not an atheist.