What is Required?

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, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?  Deuteronomy 10:12-13

When we give our life to Christ, what does that mean for us?  What is required of us after that?  Yesterday we learned the first part of the verse above said we are to fear (respect with reverence and awe) Him and walk in His ways.  Today we will be discussing the next steps in what is required of us by Christ in striving to live a Christian life. 

…and love Him
The first and greatest commandment is to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37. 
Love for our Lord enables us to trust Him.  If we love God we can face whatever comes our way because we trust Him to see us through.  We can be sure of this: If Jesus is not the object of our affections, something or someone else is! But is it worthy of our love? We love him, because he first loved us.  Jesus gave us the ability to love in the first place, so we should love him above everything and everyone else. To love Him, and to serve Him with all your heart, and with all your soul; that is the best service that springs from love.  Service from love is hearty and sincere, and performed in the best manner we are capable of. Have confidence in God as your father and friend, and trust him in all your needs, and love him in return for His love.

…and to Serve Him

Here is the connection: Because we love Jesus we serve Him. It would be wrong for our love to do nothing. True love always longs to show itself in action.

Many people come to church in order to be served rather than to serve. The Bible is specific in saying that we all have jobs in ministry: And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; Ephesians 4:11-12 God has given each of us specific gifts for two purposes – to serve others and bring praise to God.  Serving isn’t about us getting recognition or glory.  It is about bringing Glory to God! We are acting on His behalf and representing Him.  When we make others see that it is all about God and He is one who gives us the reason and the strength to serve, they can see the difference it makes in our life.  It is a testimony to having a relationship with Jesus Christ. 

God provided us with eternal life, salvation.  The least we can do is serve for the kingdom so that others can come to know Him.  After all, someone who was serving most likely touched your life and contributed to your salvation. 

Scripture to Claim:

And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment.
Matthew 22:37-38(NASB)