READING: Deuteronomy 10:1-12:28, Luke 1:1-38
Moses had been reminding God’s people of their history, but he then moved to a contemporary challenge: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all his ways, to love him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul? Keep the Lord’s commands and statutes I am giving you today, for your own good” (Deut 10:12-13). Thus, they were to:
- Fear the Lord: that is, exhibit a sense of reverence and awe about Him
- Walk in His ways: be obedient to the One they feared
- Love Him: the center of these five requirements—be fully committed to Him
- Worship Him with all their being: follow Him with abandon
- Keep His commands: do whatever He says
Who, then, was the God they were to follow? He made the world and owns all of it. He loved His people, beginning with their ancestors. He chose them out of all the peoples of the world. He takes care of the needy and loves the foreigners. He was (and is) an amazing God, the One “who has done for you these great and awe-inspiring works your eyes have seen” (Deut 10:21).
This same God is the God you and I follow. We, too, must fear Him, walk in His ways, love Him, worship Him, and keep His commands.
PRAYER: “God, I affirm my commitment today to love You with all my being.”
DAILY ACTION STEP: Follow God with complete abandon today.
TOMORROW’S READING: Deuteronomy 12:29-15:23, Luke 1:39-66