And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deuteronomy 10:12 (NIV)
Through His requirements, as described in today's verse, God wants to remind us that we are dependent on Him in every way. If we are to fear Him, love Him, obey Him, and serve Him with all our heart and soul, that means He is the only one who deserves our complete submission and worship. His requirements exclude any possibility of self-sufficiency as well as any desire for spiritual pride because it is not an attitude of worship reserved for a small group but for all.
Our total obedience to these requirements is the full expression of our love, humility, and respect for God. Micah gives us the reasons for such submission and adoration (see chapter 6:8). God's demands on His people had to be progressive because He has been more than patient with them for years. He was tolerant toward them. He knew they probably needed time to digest everything properly.
Even today, God continues to be patient with us. The people of Israel received the laws of God which were new to them, we can understand their reluctant attitude. But, in our case, these same laws have existed for millennia and we still have difficulty knowing them, or even respecting them. Don't take God's patience for granted. Remember that one day you will be held accountable. What would you say to God when the time comes to answer the question: What have you done with my patience?
May the grace and the peace of God be with you all.
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