Proverbs 21:3 — “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

Micah 6:8 — “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

With the initiative for November, we are focusing on Walking in Obedience. Our guiding verse comes from Proverbs 21:3: “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

As I studied and compared Scripture with Scripture, the Lord led me also to Micah 6:8, where He asks, “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

From these verses, the message is clear — we must learn to do right. That’s the title for today: Learning to Do Right.

God has already shown us what He desires. It’s not a mystery. He wants us to live righteously, to love one another, and to walk in His will and His way. These are the things that please Him.

Notice that God’s requirement does not include sacrifice. In the Old Testament, there were many sacrifices, but now we live under a new covenant. Sacrifice is no longer what God requires.

Faith is what pleases God, for without faith it is impossible to please Him. Only one sacrifice was pleasing to God — the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus went to the cross and shed His blood on our behalf, that was the total fulfillment of God’s requirement for the atonement of sin. Because of that one sacrifice, we are accepted once and for all. No more bulls, no more lambs, no more pigeons — it is only the blood of Jesus that gives us access to the courts of heaven.

John 19:30 — “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

It is finished! The atonement is complete. Though we owe no more sin debt, we owe our very lives to God’s mercy and grace. By accepting Jesus’s sacrifice as our own, we commit ourselves to God’s will, just as Jesus did.

Jesus now becomes our life. Through us, He glorifies the Father on this earth. This is how we mature and grow into the likeness of Jesus — by living out righteousness, mercy, and humility before God.

Psalm 97:2 — “Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.”

Justice is an attribute of God, and as His children, we have an obligation to mirror that attribute in our lives.

Psalm 37:28 — “For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever.”

Righteousness and justice are inseparable. Where you find one, you will find the other. It is the righteous who act justly, who speak wisdom, who have the law of God in their hearts.

Psalm 37:30–31 — “The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.”

Proverbs 12:5 — “The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.”

Proverbs 21:15 — “It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.”

All these Scriptures point to the same truth — to do right is to reflect the very nature of God. Righteousness and justice are His foundation.

Romans 5:17 — “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”

Because righteousness is a gift from God, the ability to act justly is also a gift. We have no excuse, saints. The Holy Spirit enables us to walk in God’s justice and righteousness.

Isaiah 1:17 — “Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.”

Through the Spirit, we learn to do right — to seek justice, defend the fatherless, and help those who are oppressed. We are called to be God’s representatives on this earth.

First, love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. When we love Him fully, His justice flows naturally from our lives, because His justice is rooted in His unconditional love.

John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Second, obey God’s commands. We learn to live righteously because the righteous are the ones who act justly. As we submit to the Holy Spirit’s leading, we bring glory to God.

Third, pray for justice in all situations — not just some, but all. Whether it’s in a courtroom, a family dispute, or personal trial, pray for God’s justice to prevail.

Finally, take up the cause of the oppressed in our communities. Look around — the broken, the hurting, the forgotten. We are called to advocate for them, to be our brother’s keeper.

1 Corinthians 6:20 — “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

We must have empathy and compassion. If it were not for God, there go I. We are only a heartbeat, a misstep, or an illness away from becoming one of the oppressed. Therefore, let us stand for justice and mercy.

We all have opportunities to stand for justice, and when we do, God is glorified. This is how we learn to do right — by acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God.

Father God, Lord Jesus, as we continue to live and learn, help us to act justly and look to You, the author and finisher of our faith.

Thank You for Your Word that resonates each day. Let it take root in us and grow into the fruit of love, compassion, and responsibility.

Lord, remind us that we are our brother’s keeper. Help us to care for those who are sick, oppressed, and in need. Lead us by Your Holy Spirit to extend grace and mercy as You have given it to us.

In Jesus Christ’s name we pray. Amen and Amen.