Friday, March 18

Deuteronomy 10:12-22

You Can’t Walk on Water, You Can Only Do Better

With every relationship comes a set of expectations, it is inevitable and unavoidable. Our spouse expects us to do our share of the housework, our employers expect us to do our share of the work load, and our children expect our love and affection. Every relationship we maintain has expectations attached to it, why would this be any different with our relationship with God? Have you taken the time lately to think about what God expects of you?

In Deuteronomy 10:12-22 many of God’s expectations are spelled out for us, simply stated and easy to read. “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.” That seems simple, right? Be a good person, love the outsider, serve the church, don’t outcast the stranger, give to the poor, respect your elders, pray, Fear God, and spread The word.

I think most Christian people fear God and would venture to say that the majority also loves Him, but this passage encourages you dig deeper. Do you serve the Lord with all of your heart and soul? Do you walk in his ways? Do you honestly love the outcast and defend the cause of an orphan? Does what you say and what you do reflect what you believe? Do you truly repent for your sins? Do you show true compassion to your neighbors or just maintain surface relationships in order to get by?

In the passage it reinforces that God does not accept bribes and shows no partiality. When your time here on earth is through you can’t tell God, “but I worked at the soup kitchen, I attended church regularly and I was kind to my neighbor”. You have to strive to meet His expectations each day, just as you strive to meet the expectations of your children, parents, spouse or employer. For some that could mean to volunteer at the soup kitchen or to attend church regularly, but the point is that is never enough. You can always do better, you can always attain the expectations you have set and then set them higher.

To meet these expectations is not quite as simple as merely reading the passage (and this passage is one of many passages that sets expectations on Christians). It is much more difficult to love more and judge less, offer your assistance to someone in need when you are tired, to hold yourself to a higher ethical standard, to have a positive attitude when you are feeling hopeless. As you think of ways to serve the Lord better, take time to think about what God expects of you. And although we should always fear God, also know that he is loving and good.

Even though we might not feel that we are meeting His expectations, remember: you can’t walk on water, you can only do better. The same God that has placed these expectations on you is the same God that loved you when you were at your weakest, loved you when you thought nobody else did. Expectations aren’t necessarily a bad thing; they should instead set us in motion to do better.

Take time to pray and educate yourself, even when you don’t understand why your loved one was taken too soon. Take time to help the friend in need, even if you’re tired. Actually be repentant and accountable for your sins. Fear God, but love Him too.

Submitted by Laura Strong