On the Move - Wisdom for the Journey
Commit to Following
Scripture: Deuteronomy 10:12-11:1
After taking the Israelites on a ‘spiritual memory safari’ (reminding them of God’s grace, His mercy and His faithful love), Moses moves the people’s focus onto what is now their personal responsibility to the LORD their God. “Looking back is good but moving forward is essential.” (cf. Php. 3:13-14). The question to be answered by that generation is the same question each of us, who claim to be a child of God, must answer today: ‘Will I commit to following what God asks of me?’
God’s people must commit to FOLLOWING nine directives on the journey:
1. F – “Fear the LORD your God” (vs. 12)
- Live with reverence and awe of God in every aspect of our lives (cf. Prov. 14:27; Ps. 111:10)
- It is a state of mind where one’s attitudes, will, feelings, actions and goals are exchanged for God’s (cf. Rom. 12:2)
Does this describe how you are following?
2. O – “Walk in obedience to Him” (vs. 120
- Daily live in agreement and in accordance with the will of God as revealed through His word
- “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)
Are you living wisely or foolishly? (cf. Mt. 7:24)
3. L – “Love Him” (vs. 12)
- Choose to make one’s primary devotion to the LORD and to Him alone.
- Obedience from the heart is how we demonstrate our love for the Lord (Jn. 14:21)
How evident is your love for the Lord?
4. L – Live a lifestyle of worship; “serve the LORD your God” (vs. 120)
- To serve means to worship the Lord as the central focus of your life (1 Cor. 10:31; Rom. 12:1)
- Half-hearted serving will not cut it with the Lord
Are you living a lifestyle of worship, serving the Lord with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul?
5. O – “Observe the LORD’s commands and decrees” (vs. 13)
- Obediently follow the commands and decrees the LORD has graciously given
- Deep-seated joy and contentment (blessed) in God is found in observing the LORD’s commands and decrees (cf. Ps. 1:1-3; Ps. 19:7-11; Ps. 119:1-5)
Are you experiencing deep-seated joy and contentment in God?
6. W – Willingly cut sin out of your life – “circumcise your hearts, stop being stiff necked” (vs. 16)
- Spiritual ‘heart surgery’ reflects an internal commitment to belong to and serve the Lord unreservedly (cf. Ps. 139:23-24)
- Cooperating with God in the process is essential to being able to fulfill the greatest commandment (Mt. 22:36; Dt. 30:6)
Are you willingly working with God to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles? (cf. Heb. 12:1)
7. I – Intentionally “love those who are foreigners residing among you” (vs. 18)
- Never forget that God reached out and cared for us, therefore we must do likewise (cf. Mt. 22:39)
- Covenant responsibility requires care for all, especially to those that might be easily neglected (cf. James 1:27)
Are you looking for ways to demonstrate the love of God with the thousands of ‘new to Canada’ residents in our city?
8. N – Never drift from the Lord – “hold fast to Him” (vs. 20)
- ‘Cling to Him’, ‘hold onto Him’ (Gen. 2:24; 1 Chron. 16:11; cf. James 4:8)
- Dwell in the shelter of the Most High (cf. Ps. 91:1-2)
On the journey, are you clinging intimately to the Lord your God, or do you feel distant from Him?
9. G – Give God the praise, He deserves it all - “He is the one you praise” (vs. 21)
- He is always to be the recipient of our praise (cf. Heb. 13:15; Rev. 19:5)
- Committing to following what God asks of us, results in others praising God (cf. Mt. 5:16)
How are you doing in giving God your praise outside of Sunday?
Why should we commit to following what God asks of us on the journey?
He commands it (vs. 12-13)
His character deserves it (vs. 14-22)
His care for us demands it (vs. 21-22)
The question that remains:
“Will I commit to following what God asks of me on the journey?"
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