What Does the Lord Require of Us?

             As the Israelites were preparing to enter the promised land, Moses recounted all that God had done for them and reminded them of all the ways that they had rebelled.  As he reminded them of how many times God had come close to destroying them, he also directed them to abandon their stubbornness and follow the Lord.  He then challenged them with these words, “And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” (Deuteronomy 10: 12-13 NIV84).  I think those directions still apply to us today.

            To fear the Lord is to have a healthy respect for His power.  Anyone who has read the Old Testament knows of His ability to “zap” those who disobey.  They also know of His ability to lead a small army against much bigger opponents.  However, I think that “fear of the Lord” also requires respect and reverence for the One who is both Creator and Giver of Life.  Yes, He is our Father, but He is also the one true God.  There is no other!  That alone deserves respect.

            Paul reminds us in Ephesians that we are “to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4: 1 NIV84).  That means that we are to walk in His ways, not our own.

            Jesus calls us to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22: 37 NIV84).  Loving God was one of the first commandments and it continues to be utmost if we are to be the people whom God called us to be.

            Finally, Moses told the people to obey God’s commands.  The apostle, John, went further to say that we will be known by our obedience. “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (I John 2: 3,4 NIV84). 

            God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  Likewise, His Word endures and is profitable for each of us.  Perhaps the most important part of what Moses said was at the end of that verse, “for your own good.”  God knows what is best and He wants only the best for us.  If only we would follow His directions, how much better our lives would be!

Deuteronomy 10:12

I John 2: 3 - 6

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