All That is Required

My last day of school is done and now I am free for a few weeks. It has been gruelling days of final evaluations, report cards, preparing next year’s class lists, and a multitude of other tasks to close out one school year and prepare for the next. My brain is tired from navigating all the to do lists and trying to make sure I meet all the requirements for my school.

Requirements are a necessary part of life in many ways. Schools would not function if they didn’t have a cohesive organizational plan that keeps all staff dealing with students in the same fashion. We have a standard report card that everyone in our grade does, for example. Any job has guidelines and expectations of some sort.

I have always been someone that works very hard to meet the expectations and requirements for whatever area I am working in. It can create a lot of stress as I don’t want to miss anything or make any missteps.

When it comes to matters of faith, I tend to have the same mindset. I want to do what God wants of me and I can create a lot of stress for myself trying to figure out what that is. Thankfully God gives us clear direction in the book of Deuteronomy:

“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 statues which I am commanding you today for your good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13 NIV)

This is not at all about the plans we make or the direction we think our lives should go. I lament frequently about what direction my life should take – wanting so badly to do things right. In these verses, God shows us exactly what is needful. Nowhere does it say stress out over figuring it out. God has the plan.

Our task is to trust in God while He works out His plan in our lives. It is not our place to worry and fret about what will happen next.

God is very clear that we need to keep our hearts and minds focused on Him. When we do that, we can wade through the distractions and problems of this life because we keep our eyes on the only One who can direct us and care for us.

In these verses are five simple steps to follow what God requires:

· Fear God – This type of fear is not about being afraid what God will do to us if we make a mistake. It is about revering God for His mighty power. It is honouring Him above all others.

· Walk in His ways – This involves prayerfully making choices that fall in line with what God’s Word teaches us.

· Love the Lord – We show our love with our worship and praise. It is building a relationship with Him through prayer and being thankful for all He is doing for us.

· Serve the Lord – We are not just to be little robots doing what God wants. He is asking that we serve Him with our whole hearts. It should not be something we do half-heartedly.

· Keep the Lord’s commandments – God has put rules in place to keep us safe and within His plan. Following these guidelines aligns us better with what God wants for us.

We can easily get caught up in all the world requires of us. What we need to do is take time to slow down and consider what God wants for us. His Word is very clear.

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