Hosea 12:6 - What God Expects Of His Children

But you must return to your God;
maintain love and justice,
and wait for your God always.
Hosea 12:6 (NIV)

The two principles that Hosea called his nation to live by, love
and justice, are at the very foundation of God's character. They are
essential to his followers, but they are not easy to keep in balance. Some
people are loving to the point that they excuse wrongdoing. Others are
just to the extent that they forget love. Love without justice,
because it is not aiming at a higher standard, leaves people in their
sins. Justice without love, because it has no heart, drives people
away from God. To specialize in one at the expense of the other is to
distort our witness. Today's church, just like Hosea's nation, must live
by both principles. [Life Application SB]

Actually there are three principles in this passages by which we
are to live and the same three principles are found in Mic.6:8:

The LORD has told you, human, what is good;
he has told you what he wants from you:
to do what is right to other people,
love being kind to others,
and live humbly, obeying your God.
Micah 6:8 (NCV)

There are things required in life.  To drive a car, you must
have a driver's license.  To teach in a public school you need a
teaching certificate.  These things are required so that a person may
"do" something, or "be" something. To be a follower of God, there are
requirements.  Fear God, not as the "Great Punisher in the Sky," but rather
with a reverence for who and what He is! We can begin to see Him in
His creation.  To walk in His ways is to order your life, your walk,
according to His Word, which must be regularly read to know Him more
fully.  And as you begin to know Him more fully, you grow in affection
for Him.  And this ultimately leads to the desire to serve Him.  To
know Him, to love Him, to serve Him.  Is that your desire?  Today
draw near, read His Word and pray to Him.  It is His desire you
should.  [In His Time, Walk with Wisdom]