HE IS TO BE OVER ALL
HE IS TO BE OVER ALL
And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require 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 to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good? —Deuteronomy 10:12-13
What did the Lord God require of Israel?
- They were to fear the Lord their God
- They were to walk in all His ways
- They were to love Him
- They were to serve Him with all their heart and soul
- They were to keep His commandments
- They were to keep His statutes
All this was for Israel’s good! God was not trying to make life hard for them. No, He was looking out for their best interests. They were to “fear the Lord their God.” To fear the Lord is the “foundation of knowledge.” It is to be wise and disciplined in that knowledge (Proverbs 1:7; 15:33). Fear of the Lord is to hate evil and depart from it (Proverbs 8:13; 16:6; Job 28:28). To fear the Lord is to judge with integrity (II Chronicles 19:7). To understand the fear of the Lord is to gain knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:5). The Apostle Paul said, “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience” (II Corinthians 5:11). May we see to “persuade others” as well.
It is because of not walking in His ways that the Messiah would come. “We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Israel, along with all mankind, has a sinful desire to walk after their own ways and not God’s ways. The nation of Israel and all mankind needs a heart change and the coming Messiah would enable that through faith in Him.
We are to “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37). Godly love is to be the motivation, the guiding foundation of our lives (I Corinthians 13; I John 4:7-12). Anything and everything that is not the result of godly love is worthless.
You and I are to be servants. Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12) and that “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all” (Mark 10:44). Yes, we are called to serve. May we be a servant actively serving. May it be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC617kE1maU
Dear Father I am grateful to be able to serve You and may I do so however You want me to. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit while I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus!