What does the Lord your God ask of you? (Deut. 10:12)

MOSES ASKED THE ISRAELITES the question in Deuteronomy 10:12 during an exposition of the Ten Commandments, but that was about 3,500 years ago. I wondered how people today would answer. I thought of asking fellow shoppers at the mall and imagined some of the strange looks I would receive, not to mention some equally strange replies. So I did it the modern way. I set up an Internet survey. I was surprised by how many responded. One word stood out, either in text or by insinuation: obedience. Many who said they never went to church even replied this way.

“God wants me to live my life obeying all His commandments,” said one. “I don’t believe in God,” said another, “but if I did I know He’d expect me to obey Him.” A professing Christian who attends church regularly said, “I really have no idea.”Doesn’t that strike you as strange?

About 1,300 years after Moses, while Jesus gave His parting instructions to His disciples, He emphasized His desire for them to, above all, love one another. But then in conclusion, He added this clarification of love: “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you” (John 14:15–16). So the majority of my responders were not so wrong. Obeying God is all about loving Him, which is, after all, the greatest commandment (Matt. 22:37). The reason God sent His Holy Spirit is exactly so that we can have the power to obediently love.

How about you? Who you are indicates whom you love. Do you love God with all your heart?

Ask God to show you what loving obedience He wants from you today.

Shirley Corder is a registered nurse, pastor’s wife, and cancer survivor. She lives with her husband near the sea in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.