The Requirement of God

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 ~ "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?"

How often does this question rise up in your heart, dear one: "What does God require?" Often, the consideration and concerns of our hearts are concentrated on the things that we desire, things that we need or want. Our prayers might sound like a listing of temporary necessities or, worse, demands. But do you pray--"Lord, what do you want of me?" For in truth, the Lord of glory is the King of our lives and the absolute ruler over all that we are and do. It should be the desire of every believer to know the requirements of the Savior.

This rhetorical question asked by Moses gives us pause to consider our own hearts before the Lord. What does the Lord require of His people? God had powerfully delivered the nation of Israel out of the captivity in Egypt, and He established them as a people for His very own. And now having rescued with a mighty hand those who believe on the Lord Jesus, these requirements still ring true in our hearts as well. There are five answers given to the question.

​First, to fear the LORD your God. Christian, what god is there like unto the LORD our God? There is no other Savior, no other Sovereign, He alone reigns in unapproachable light and has descended from heaven to bear away the sins of His people. Does not your heart tremble before the Mighty God? Jeremiah 5:22 asks, "Do you not fear me? declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it."

Second, to walk in all His ways. The world is filled with paths of intrigue and interest, but who is reading this that longs for the highway of the LORD? There are all manner of diversions along the broad road that leads to destruction, but only a narrow way that leads to life (see Matthew 7:13-14). The way of God is the way of holiness. Isaiah 35:8 states, "And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray."

Third, to love Him. To love the Lord is to set Him above all other interests or relations and desire His satisfaction as of greatest importance. Love is the most compelling of conditions in the heart--it will move a person to lay all aside and give up all for the sake of the one who is loved (see John 15:13). Jesus responds to the question concerning the greatest commandment, and the answer He gave in Mark 12:30 is this, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."

Fourth, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. As a court gathers to serve a king, so Christians are to serve the LORD. He needs nothing from our hands as if He were a weak or frail monarch. But His service is required for the purpose of bringing forth glory for His holy name and benefit to those around us. Jesus, our King, said in Matthew 25:37-40, "Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’"

Fifth, to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD. To keep the commandments of the LORD is not merely to have a passive observation of them or an half-hearted obedience to them. To "keep" them is to make them a treasured possession of your heart--to keep them as if they are of greater worth than all the gold that could be collected from every mountain in the world. Psalm 19:10-11 states, "More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward."

These, beloved, are the requirements of the LORD. And those whom He has rescued from the dominion of this world will discover their hearts delighting in them. 

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

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