Though many things are required for us to be righteous in the sight of God, yet there are general requirements neglected by many people. For example, when God gave His commandments to Israel, not all of them followed it. Some of them neglected His laws and commandments. Of course, they will not escape God’s wrath.
It is very plain and simple – God has given us requirements and we must meet these requirements to pass His criteria. Remember, it is God’s criteria and not our criteria. It is God’s requirements and not ours. People often set their own requirements to meet the criteria of God. This is not right. We cannot make our own requirements to please God. Our worship will be vain if we trust and follow man’s teachings. Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching fordoctrines the commandments of men.
Therefore, in everything we do, especially when it comes to worshiping God, we should rely on what God requires us to do. And there is no authority to explain what God wants except the Bible – the living word of God. The Bible teaches that God requires Israel these things: Deu 10:12 -13 “Now, people of Israel, listen to what the LORD your God demands of you: Worship the LORD and do all that he commands. Love him, serve him with all your heart, and obey all his laws. I am giving them to you today for your benefit.
From here, notice that there are five things that God required them to do:
1. Fear God
2. Live in the way that pleases Him
3. Love Him
4. Serve Him with all our heart and soul
5. Obey His commands
Fear God – This is the whole duty of man, to fear God and do His commands. Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. This is our purpose here on earth, we need to show God that we fear Him. Our fear in God is not like the phobia type of fear, which makes us go away from something we fear. Our fear in God must push us to do His commands.
Live in the way that pleases Him – We are created in God’s image. This means not only the physical aspects of our being but as well as the spiritual aspect of God. We are created into holiness – this means we must be holy in every thing we do. This is the only way we can please God, and that is to live in such a way that pleases Him. 1Pe 1:15-16 Instead, just as the one who called you is holy, be holy in every aspect of your life. For it is written, “You must be holy, because I am holy.”
Love Him – God is love. And He created us because He loves us. Its because of His love that He wanted us to be saved and receive the promised eternal life. Since God loves us first, we reciprocate by loving Him back. And to love God, we must obey His commands. 1Jn_4:8 The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1Jn_4:12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1Jn_5:2 This is how we know that we love God’s children: we love God and keep his commandments. 1Jn_5:3 For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not difficult,
Serve Him with all our Heart and Soul – ”It is written, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” (Luke 4:8) Serving God is what we must do always. We are His servants and He is our master. Our duty is to fulfill what He desires. If we serve Him, don’t do it with less heart, be focused and put them as our priorities in life. People tend to neglect that serving God is one of the greatest duty we can ever have. This is because their priorities in life are bent towards earthly desires.
Obey His commands – God gave us the free will to do anything we want. We are not like robots. We are His creations capable of doing anything. But we have limitations. We are designed to obey His will, His commands. If we don’t follow, then we are doomed. There is price for those who will obey and curse for those who will not. Deu_11:27-28 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the
LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
These are simple requirements of God to Israel. These are also applicable to us.
Respect, follow, love, serve and obey.
