Waist Deep 2018 - February 4

Deuteronomy 10: 12 And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (NIV)

Deuteronomy 11: 1 Love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always. (NIV)

Love God more than you fear hell.*

We receive reminders to pay our taxes, which our government then uses to provide services and protection, so is it so amazing that we should be reminded to serve the Lord? We owe him for everything we have, but since we owe him for our lives, why do we have to be reminded to love him?

If it is our duty to fear him, walk in his ways, and serve him, then love must be a duty as well. We tend to think of love as something that happens to us – as if we have no choice in the matter – but according to God, we can choose to love him. And why wouldn’t we? 

There are plenty of reasons to love him: 1) because he chose us; 2) because of who he is; 3) because he redeems us; 4) because he provides for us . . . to name a few. But we don’t always feel like loving God because loving God requires commitment. Following him is not always easy – but it is always for our own good.

Our faith must be more than stubborn adherence to a creed or constant striving for virtue. Our faith must lead us to adoration, a devotion to our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.*