As I write this, I’m about two-thirds of the way through the fourth season of “Breaking Bad.” I was late in getting on the Breaking Bad bandwagon and have been methodically trying to catch up on Netflix, but, as you may have heard, the sixth and last season just started a few weeks ago. I was tempted to do some binge-watching to bring myself up-to-date, but I’ve decided to keep going at my pace and, if I find out what happens at the very end (and I’m sure I will), so be it. I’m content with enjoying where I am right now.

This isn’t necessarily a post about Breaking Bad (though I’m tempted), but about knowing context and the fullness of being in relationship with God. When this series finally ends in a few weeks, I’ll be fine not knowing the completion of its narrative arc because I’m enjoying where I am now. We sometimes get that way about certain parts of Scripture. We may have a favorite verse or two that we use for guidance or inspiration (which is great), but we may not know much about the verse’s context.

I was reading through the book of Micah last week. There’s a pretty popular verse in this book that goes “He has told you, human one, what is good and what the Lord requires from you: to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God (Common English Bible translation).” That’s Micah 6:8. I happened to be reading ahead in chapter 7 and was struck that the prophet was upset. He can’t stand the fact that politicians are asking for bribes and that the powerful do evil.

But then he produces this wonderful (albeit challenging) image in 7:4: “The good among them are like a briar; those who do the right thing are like a thorny thicket.” We love Micah 6:8. We want to do justice, embrace faithful love (sometimes interpreted as kindness), and walk humbly with God. By knowing more of the story, though, we realize that sometimes doing these things means that we may rub people the wrong way. Radical love can do that.

One of our hopes at UVC is for our people to continually have a deep(er) faith and draw hope from the full story of God’s grace. Where you are in your journey is good. Where God is going to lead you is even more exciting.