Expectations

Deuteronomy 10:12-13

12 “Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?

Examine / Explain

In Moses’ explanation of the law, he lays out what God requires of His people. God first! The first commandment. Later in the book of Micah, the people claim that God’s expectations are too much. To which His response is, I am God.

How do I apply this to my life?

I believe one of the most extraordinary acts of love God did for us, beyond Jesus dying for our sins on the cross, creating boundaries for us, and laying out a set of guides to know what we are to live up to. But our pride and wicked hearts say “no” we can do whatever we want. We are unjust and do not seek loving kindness on our own. We will not humble ourselves without God’s direction. We build our kingdoms, towers, and castles to be rulers and kings. How is that living for the Lord? How is that serving the living God with all of your heart and soul? His statutes and commandments allow us to live the best life while we are here. He created us, He knows what is best for us. They are getting us prepared for the life ahead. Eternity with our creator. But all we see are the things we can’t do. The enticing “fun” is out of bounds, so we complain and convince ourselves that it is okay and stay as close to sin as possible.

What is my response?

Father, I must be reminded that You are God and I am to have a reverence for You. A healthy fear of the Lord. I am to love You with everything that I have and You are more interested in me and our relationship than me “making up” for my sins. You would prefer obedience over repentance. Because I would love you enough not to do things in the first place. However, I’m human and I fail. All the time, and yet You still love me and wait patiently with Your arms open wide to take me back again and again. Thank you for being God. Amen.