Naleng Real’s testimony from Cambodia reminds us of a profound truth. Our work and efforts are not about personal glory or recognition. They are threads woven into God’s larger design for humanity. When we understand this, we find both peace and purpose in serving others.
The scripture from Micah 6:8 cuts straight to the heart of what God desires from us. “He has shown you, O mortal, 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” (NKJV). These are not suggestions or ideals. They are requirements for those who follow Christ.
The Humbling Process
Recognition of our place in God’s plan does not come naturally. Pride whispers that our achievements define us. Culture tells us to build our personal brand and seek the spotlight. Yet Scripture consistently calls us to a different path.
Think about Moses, who led Israel out of Egypt. When God called him at the burning bush, Moses responded with doubt about his own abilities. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” he asked (Exodus 3:11, NKJV). God’s answer was not about Moses at all. “I will be with you,” He said. The focus shifted from human ability to divine presence.
Paul the apostle understood this principle deeply. After experiencing visions and revelations, he was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. His conclusion? “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10, NKJV).
Acting Justly in Daily Life
Justice is not abstract theology. It shows up in how we treat the cashier at the grocery store, how we respond to unfair criticism, and whether we speak up when someone is mistreated. Naleng’s service in Cambodia demonstrates this practical justice. Meeting physical needs while sharing spiritual truth.
William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, understood this connection between justice and faith. He refused to separate preaching from practical help. His motto was simple: “Soup, Soap, and Salvation.” Feed the hungry, clothe the poor, and share the gospel. All three work together.
You see injustice every day. The coworker who takes credit for your ideas. The neighbor struggling to pay rent while others waste resources. The elderly person ignored at family gatherings. Justice means addressing these situations with wisdom and courage.
Loving Mercy: Beyond Fair Treatment
Mercy goes beyond justice. Justice gives people what they deserve. Mercy gives them what they need. This distinction changes everything about how we interact with others.
Consider the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). The law demanded justice through stoning. Jesus offered mercy without compromising truth. “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:11, NKJV). Mercy acknowledged her sin while providing a path forward.
Catherine Booth, co-founder of the Salvation Army, exemplified this mercy in action. She preached fearlessly while caring for the poor and marginalized. Her life demonstrated that mercy must have feet and hands, not just words.
In your life, mercy looks like forgiving the friend who betrayed your trust. It means helping the family member who squandered their opportunities. Mercy sees beyond the failure to the person God created.
Walking Humbly: The Daily Choice
Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less. When Naleng speaks of finding peace and purpose in serving others, she describes the fruit of genuine humility.
Charles Spurgeon, known as the “Prince of Preachers,” maintained humility despite his fame. He once said, “The more you know of God’s grace, the more you see your own unworthiness.” Success did not inflate his ego because he understood his position before God.
Walking humbly means celebrating others’ successes without jealousy. It means accepting correction without defensiveness. Humility admits mistakes quickly and seeks reconciliation.
Excellence Without Glory-Seeking
Striving for excellence while avoiding personal glory seems contradictory. Yet this is exactly what God calls us to do. Excellence honors God. Glory-seeking honors self.
Oswald Chambers wrote in “My Utmost for His Highest” about complete surrender to Christ. Excellence flows from this surrender. When you work as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23), quality matters because you serve the King of Kings.
The difference shows in motivation. Do you work hard to impress others or to honor God? Do you serve to build your reputation or to reflect Christ’s love? These questions reveal whether excellence serves God or self.
Making a Meaningful Difference
Every action creates ripples. The kind word to a discouraged friend. The honest business dealing when no one is watching. The faithful teaching of children who seem uninterested. These small acts join God’s larger work in the world.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer faced this reality under Nazi rule. He chose costly discipleship over comfortable compromise. His resistance cost him his life, but his witness continues inspiring believers worldwide. One person’s faithful service echoes through generations.
Your meaningful difference might seem small today. Teaching Sunday school to restless children. Visiting elderly church members. Supporting missionaries like Naleng in Cambodia. These acts of service matter more than you know.
Practical Steps Forward
Start where you are. Look for one person to serve this week without seeking recognition. Choose mercy when someone deserves judgment. Speak truth when staying silent seems easier.
Practice humility by listening more than speaking in your next conversation. Acknowledge someone else’s contribution in your next meeting. Admit a mistake without making excuses.
Pursue excellence in your work tomorrow, not for praise but as worship. Do the task no one else wants. Complete the project thoroughly even if no one will notice.
Ground these actions in prayer and Scripture. Micah 6:8 is not a burden but a blessing. It simplifies life’s complexity into clear priorities: justice, mercy, and humility.
Remember Naleng’s testimony from Cambodia. Her work continues because it flows from proper motivation. Not personal glory but God’s glory. Not individual achievement but kingdom advancement.
The same Spirit who empowered believers throughout history empowers you today. From Jan Hus facing martyrdom for truth to Billy Graham preaching to millions, God uses humble servants who act justly and love mercy.
Your part in God’s story matters. Not because you are great, but because He is. Not because you are strong, but because His strength works through your weakness. This is the peace and purpose Naleng discovered. This is your calling too.
Walk humbly with your God. The path leads through service to others, through justice and mercy, through daily choices that honor Christ. This walk transforms both you and those you serve. One step at a time, one day at a time, for His glory alone.
Naleng Real’s testimony from Cambodia reminds us of a profound truth. Our work and efforts are not about personal glory or recognition. They are threads woven into God’s larger design for humanity. When we understand this, we find both peace and purpose in serving others.
The scripture from Micah 6:8 cuts straight to the heart of what God desires from us. “He has shown you, O mortal, 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” (NKJV). These are not suggestions or ideals. They are requirements for those who follow Christ.
The Humbling Process
Recognition of our place in God’s plan does not come naturally. Pride whispers that our achievements define us. Culture tells us to build our personal brand and seek the spotlight. Yet Scripture consistently calls us to a different path.
Think about Moses, who led Israel out of Egypt. When God called him at the burning bush, Moses responded with doubt about his own abilities. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” he asked (Exodus 3:11, NKJV). God’s answer was not about Moses at all. “I will be with you,” He said. The focus shifted from human ability to divine presence.
Paul the apostle understood this principle deeply. After experiencing visions and revelations, he was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. His conclusion? “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10, NKJV).
Acting Justly in Daily Life
Justice is not abstract theology. It shows up in how we treat the cashier at the grocery store, how we respond to unfair criticism, and whether we speak up when someone is mistreated. Naleng’s service in Cambodia demonstrates this practical justice. Meeting physical needs while sharing spiritual truth.
William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, understood this connection between justice and faith. He refused to separate preaching from practical help. His motto was simple: “Soup, Soap, and Salvation.” Feed the hungry, clothe the poor, and share the gospel. All three work together.
You see injustice every day. The coworker who takes credit for your ideas. The neighbor struggling to pay rent while others waste resources. The elderly person ignored at family gatherings. Justice means addressing these situations with wisdom and courage.
Loving Mercy: Beyond Fair Treatment
Mercy goes beyond justice. Justice gives people what they deserve. Mercy gives them what they need. This distinction changes everything about how we interact with others.
Consider the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). The law demanded justice through stoning. Jesus offered mercy without compromising truth. “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:11, NKJV). Mercy acknowledged her sin while providing a path forward.
Catherine Booth, co-founder of the Salvation Army, exemplified this mercy in action. She preached fearlessly while caring for the poor and marginalized. Her life demonstrated that mercy must have feet and hands, not just words.
In your life, mercy looks like forgiving the friend who betrayed your trust. It means helping the family member who squandered their opportunities. Mercy sees beyond the failure to the person God created.
Walking Humbly: The Daily Choice
Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less. When Naleng speaks of finding peace and purpose in serving others, she describes the fruit of genuine humility.
Charles Spurgeon, known as the “Prince of Preachers,” maintained humility despite his fame. He once said, “The more you know of God’s grace, the more you see your own unworthiness.” Success did not inflate his ego because he understood his position before God.
Walking humbly means celebrating others’ successes without jealousy. It means accepting correction without defensiveness. Humility admits mistakes quickly and seeks reconciliation.
Excellence Without Glory-Seeking
Striving for excellence while avoiding personal glory seems contradictory. Yet this is exactly what God calls us to do. Excellence honors God. Glory-seeking honors self.
Oswald Chambers wrote in “My Utmost for His Highest” about complete surrender to Christ. Excellence flows from this surrender. When you work as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23), quality matters because you serve the King of Kings.
The difference shows in motivation. Do you work hard to impress others or to honor God? Do you serve to build your reputation or to reflect Christ’s love? These questions reveal whether excellence serves God or self.
Making a Meaningful Difference
Every action creates ripples. The kind word to a discouraged friend. The honest business dealing when no one is watching. The faithful teaching of children who seem uninterested. These small acts join God’s larger work in the world.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer faced this reality under Nazi rule. He chose costly discipleship over comfortable compromise. His resistance cost him his life, but his witness continues inspiring believers worldwide. One person’s faithful service echoes through generations.
Your meaningful difference might seem small today. Teaching Sunday school to restless children. Visiting elderly church members. Supporting missionaries like Naleng in Cambodia. These acts of service matter more than you know.
Practical Steps Forward
Start where you are. Look for one person to serve this week without seeking recognition. Choose mercy when someone deserves judgment. Speak truth when staying silent seems easier.
Practice humility by listening more than speaking in your next conversation. Acknowledge someone else’s contribution in your next meeting. Admit a mistake without making excuses.
Pursue excellence in your work tomorrow, not for praise but as worship. Do the task no one else wants. Complete the project thoroughly even if no one will notice.
Ground these actions in prayer and Scripture. Micah 6:8 is not a burden but a blessing. It simplifies life’s complexity into clear priorities: justice, mercy, and humility.
Remember Naleng’s testimony from Cambodia. Her work continues because it flows from proper motivation. Not personal glory but God’s glory. Not individual achievement but kingdom advancement.
The same Spirit who empowered believers throughout history empowers you today. From Jan Hus facing martyrdom for truth to Billy Graham preaching to millions, God uses humble servants who act justly and love mercy.
Your part in God’s story matters. Not because you are great, but because He is. Not because you are strong, but because His strength works through your weakness. This is the peace and purpose Naleng discovered. This is your calling too.
Walk humbly with your God. The path leads through service to others, through justice and mercy, through daily choices that honor Christ. This walk transforms both you and those you serve. One step at a time, one day at a time, for His glory alone.
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