"Require?"
Daniel Valles

READ Deut. 10:12-13

In our Christian life, we can often lose focus of what our duty and requirements are as sons and heirs. Many today are running around trying to find purpose from a book that is not the Bible, and quotes from a multitude of men's perverted 'interpretations'. The Bible in several places succinctly and concisely tells us what God wants from us. He even words it in plain, easy-to-understand language. "What doth the LORD thy God require of thee?..."

Fear the Lord thy God. Reverence, Respect, Awe. God is not a T-shirt slogan, or a buddy-buddy friend. Psalms 33:8 "Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him." Your attitude toward God, whether one of respect or unconcern, affects the rest of your life. Your requirements, purpose, responsibilities, etc. will be aimless without a proper fear of God.

Walk in all His ways. Do not compromise. Do not excuse. Do not use your feelings as a guide - walk in all His ways. Not mine, not your pastors, not your elders, or deacons. His ways.

Love Him. This is not a request, it is a command. It is a 'thou shalt' command. (Deuteronomy 6:5, Deuteronomy 11:1, Matthew 22:37). It takes deliberate attention and focus to keep our eyes, heart, mind, and soul focused on Christ. Just like a farmer plowing his fields in the olden days, in order to keep a straight line, he always looked forwards at a fixed point. As long as he moved toward that point, and kept his eyes on it, the furrows were straight. If he watched the birds, or daydreamed, the furrows would wander. Our Christian life is the same. If we do not pursue God as the pivotal point of everything in our life, we will wander. If we get distracted by sports, leisure, activities, etc., we can slowly get off course.

Serve Him with all your heart and soul. We should not go to church, witness, help the fatherless, etc. just because it is our doctrine. We can learn volumes of doctrine. What is necessary is a connection from the heart to the head. We do not just serve Him solely because our head tells us that we are to - we serve Him with zeal because He is real in our life and heart!

Ecclesiastes 12:13 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

P.S. It takes homework to finish our 'assignment'. We are given assigned reading. Objective: find out what His commandments, statutes, and principles are. Failure to complete assignment will result in low grades, misapplied material, and possible disciplinary action.