Oswald Chambers once said, “It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and without a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires. Common sense, covered with a layer of Christian emotion, becomes your guide.” So after we receive Jesus as our Savior, what is it that God requires of us? What should we be doing?
Moses provides the framework to help us in this endeavor. In Deuteronomy 10:12-13, he spelled out the Lord’s requirement of His redeemed people. It contains five key words: fear, live, love, serve, and obey.
We’re reminded not to presume upon grace, but to “fear the LORD” who is our God. This practice can help us “live in a way that pleases Him”—to intentionally conduct every aspect of our lives—from the ordinary to the extraordinary, in public as well as in private—in ways that bring a smile to His face (Deuteronomy 10:12). That will include choosing to please Him, instead of ourselves or even our loved ones, because we love Him. God desires that we be totally committed to serve and obey Him. Doing so honors Him, but it is also for our own good.
Perhaps, like me, you may sometimes feel that the spirit is willing but the body is weak. Moses reminded the Israelites to focus on who God is and what He does (Deuteronomy 10:14-22), not simply on our own limited abilities or fickle ways. Fixing our eyes on God is fundamental to fearing, living, loving, serving, and obeying Him. “For the LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God” (Deuteronomy 10:17).
May we choose to do what our amazing God requires out of love for Him. As we do, He’ll be honored and those we touch with His love will be blessed.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 12:1-25
More:
Read Micah 6:8 for other requirements the Lord has for His people.
Next:
How will you seek to develop a closer walk with God? What does it mean for you to serve and love our “mighty and awesome God”?
Gary Shultz on October 27, 2015 at 6:14 am
We would probably do much better more often if we would but stop and ask “what God requires”. To live life with constant submission to God ways, to consider who He is and how we should exercise those five things, and as you say in private and public. Thanks Ps. 119:1-8
brogers547 on October 27, 2015 at 6:48 am
Well said, if we all took it to the Lord first we would find that things would go a lot better for us.
Mike Wittmer on October 27, 2015 at 6:59 am
This is a good reminder from Deuteronomy, which is all about remembering what God has done for us. I heard a sermon on this text Sunday, and as you pointed out, the key here is that God’s laws are for our good. There aren’t many of them (only 10 Commandments), and we’ll have no problem obeying if we believe that they are for our best.
Tom Felten on October 27, 2015 at 9:25 am
Poh Fang, I’m reminded of what Jesus said in John 14:21, that those who love Him will obey Him. It’s so much better to make decisions and live all of our lives out of love for God, instead of doing things out of fear or to try and earn our way into a right relationship with Him!
jim spillane on October 27, 2015 at 2:15 pm
Mike and Tom – I’m often surprised by the number of people I come across who believe that the path to heaven is paved with good works. They quote John and they quote James and think that if they send up enough good deeds to heaven, then they’re all set. I know that you two will agree with me when I say that the first thing that they must know is that they must be born again, otherwise, everything they do has no eternal value. See John 3:3
godlove on October 27, 2015 at 3:32 pm
“Fear, live, love, serve, and obey.”
This is what GOD requires, so simple, yet so hard! May GOD help us to live out our lives just as he requires of us.
Thank you for this.
Winn Collier on October 28, 2015 at 5:32 pm
“Common sense, covered with a layer of Christian devotion…” — that’s something to ponder right there.