God wants to mature us as Christians and bring good fruit into our lives by the power of His Holy Spirit: “but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23; NKJV).

 Love in Galatians 5:22 is the God kind of unconditional love, a love that loves the unlovable. Joy here is a joy of substance, such as the disciples showed in face of persecution (Acts 5:41). God said He would give us a peace that was different from that of the world, a peace that would overcome fear and keep our hearts steady and untroubled (John 14:27) despite our circumstances.

 The patience the Holy Spirit gives us is a quality of love, vulnerability and constraint in face of those who would do us harm. Kindness is the practical out working of goodness, particularly toward those who vex us. Goodness is god likeness, the desire to be and act like Him! The Holy Spirit will purge us of criticality and abrasiveness.

 The faithful person is trustworthy and reliable at all times, no matter what the opposition or circumstances; convenient or not. Gentleness or meekness does not describe a mouse but a strong and mighty Christian who’s will and emotions are under the control of the Holy Spirit; this person is self-controlled.

 As we rest and trust in God and immerse ourselves in His word, the word through the power of the Holy Spirit, will transform us if we allow Him to.

"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?" (KJV; Mic 6:8) When I see phrases like “He has shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee”, in the Bible, I figure God is trying to get something significant across to me!

So, what does the Lord require from us in this verse from the prophet Micah? To do justly is to act according to Gods divine laws. Mercy is often translated as loving kindness and also includes the sense of faithfulness, tenderness and unfailing love. Kindness is really goodness in action; practical goodness.

God said to Israel that: “I will have mercy and not sacrifice” (Matt 12:7) and a cardinal command is to love (John 13:34). God’s word says to: “humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt us in due time” (1Peter 5:6). “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). To make ourselves low or humble seems very alien to the world’s behavior but someone once told me to look at what the world does and do the opposite!