Serving God with Heart and Soul

Jesus' Fulfillment of Scripture
Jesus' Use of Scripture
The Greatest Commandment

Deuteronomy 10:12-21

The Message

^12-13 So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I’m commanding you today—live a good life.

^14-18 Look around you: Everything you see is God’s—the heavens above and beyond, the Earth, and everything on it. But it was your ancestors who God fell in love with; he picked their children—that’s you!—out of all the other peoples. That’s where we are right now. So cut away the thick calluses from your heart and stop being so willfully hardheaded. God, your God, is the God of all gods, he’s the Master of all masters, a God immense and powerful and awesome. He doesn’t play favorites, takes no bribes, makes sure orphans and widows are treated fairly, takes loving care of foreigners by seeing that they get food and clothing.

^19-21 You must treat foreigners with the same loving care—
        remember, you were once foreigners in Egypt.
    Reverently respect God, your God, serve him, hold tight to him,
        back up your promises with the authority of his name.
    He’s your praise! He’s your God!
    He did all these tremendous, these staggering things
        that you saw with your own eyes.

For Reflection

What does God expect from us?  Respect. Reliability, Reverence, Participation in God's will for human kind, Seeking Justice and being Just, Humility, Hospitality, Kindness, Compassion, Love for God, self and others, Living a good life in the hollow of God's hand, in short, being a good steward of God's Kingdom.

Pray

That in every thought and deed you hallow the name of God.  Praise and offer thanksgiving for the gift God has freely given and you are free to accept.