Deuteronomy 10:12-22

Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

We, who have received God's mercy and unconditional grace toward us, need to wonder what returns we shall make to him. (Psalm 116:12-13) What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. When we consider what God requires from us, we will find it is what is highly just and reasonable in itself and of unspeakable benefit to us.     

Fear the Lord our God, which includes worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth heartily and sincerely to walk in holiness .It is the Holy Spirit within us who prompts us to do the will of God. We acknowledge God’s authority, and stand in awe of his power and dread his wrath. (Rev 14:6, 7) Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.   

In this dispensation of Grace we swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne; Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool; neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall we swear by our head, because we cannot make one hair white or black. But let our communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatever is more than these cometh of evil. (Matt. 5:33-37, Matt. 23:16-22, Is.66:1, Col.4:6-Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.(James 5:12)But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath; but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest you fall into condemnation. The love of God toward us was manifested because God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9, 10) Jesus took our sins and bore the penalty for it, which is death. Jesus purchased our inheritance for us with his precious blood. He paid the price for sin so that we could be cleansed and be the temple of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 6:16) Jesus suffered, died and rose again so that He could give rise to a new race of reborn men and women who would do the same works He did and even greater works. We are destined to be conformed to His image.

 As we know the love of God for us and have tasted of his goodness toward us we need to cast away all corrupt affections and inclinations which hinder us from fearing and loving God. Putting away all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness which obstruct the free course of the Word of God to our hearts. (Rom 2:29) Be circumcised in the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God. Only God’s Spirit will make us holy. We being united to the Lord in such a way that the Holy Spirit of God is leading us, guiding us and directing us in life is holiness. God loves us, he paid a high price for us, and so we glorify him in our body, as we are the temple of God. Honor him with our lifestyle, and obey the promptings of the Spirit of God within us, choosing to live a holy life. It is God who works through the Word to place in our heart all which is well pleasing in his sight.(Phil 2:13) We should not be obstinate against divine commands and corrections, but should be ready to comply to the will of God in both.  (Deut28:27, 28, 29)  The curse is in the world but to those who believe in the shed blood of Jesus, getting back on the commandment of love (1 John. 3:23 -And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.) we receive the blessing Jesus Christ has purchased for us (Gal 3:13, 14) Jesus Christ, himself bore the curse of the law. We walk in his ways which he has appointed us to walk in, having the whole course of our conversation to his will.       

Serving the Lord with all our heart and soul in doing all with a cheerful and good will, keeping all his commandments and statues having given up ourselves to his service we must make his revealed will our rule in everything forbearing all the forbids, firmly believing that all the statues he commands us are for our good. There is true honor and pleasure in obedience and the reward of obedience will be unspeakable gain for us. It is for our present good to be meek and humble, sober, patient, just, charitable and contended. These make us safe, pleasant and truly great.                                                    

Honor the Lord highly esteeming him and his Word above all. God regards not persons but deals justly and equally with all men and whosoever fears and obeys him shall be accepted, but the transgressors shall be severely punished. We are taught our duty to our neighbor, love the stranger and if our brethren much more as ourselves. Do good to all men. God gives life and breath and all things, even to those that are gentiles-unbelievers. God’s common gifts to mankind oblige us to honor all men. (Psalm146:9) "The Lord preserves the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.” He executes or pleads their cause and gives them right against their adversaries and therefore he expects us to do so too. God in his providence takes care of and expresses his love and kindness to those in a foreign country, a long distance from his own native land and destitute of friends. He provides for them the necessary food and raiment. He executes judgment to the fatherless and widow who have none to help them and defends them. He will take care that it is done them by others or he avenges their injuries.                       

To God we must cleave faithfully and constantly abiding in him and never forsaking him. He has promised He would never leave us nor forsake us. (Heb 13:5) We cleave to him with firm confidence, true affection and constant obedience, trusting and confiding in him, having great expectations of good, believing his word, knowing that he is a good God who always wants to see us prosperous, healthy and living the life he has come to give us more abundantly. God knows the thoughts he thinks towards us thoughts for good and not for evil, thoughts to give us a future and hope. (Jer. 29:11) We need to praise and thank him in everything for he is our praise, the object and matter of our praise. He deserves the praises of his creatures because of his perfection, wondrous works and blessings of goodness and for all mercies toward us, both for today and for eternity. Praise is his due, and it is comely in his people to give it to him. (Jer. 17:14)