Deuteronomy 10:12-13 is a pretty big ask: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” At no point in the books of the Law does God pretend that this is some low stakes ask, no “5 easy payments of $19.99” or some other gimmick. God wants everything of us. What then does God offer to us? Also everything. We are rightly skeptical today of any grandiose offers. The two questions become: is it credible and is it worthwhile? Our world today is full of offers that are “too good to be true” because they’re simply untrue. Yet God is credible. In Deuteronomy 10:22 God reaffirms his credibility as the Promise Maker and the Promise Keeper. The people have grown from a mere 70 in Egypt to being as numerous as the stars in the sky, just as God promised to Abraham generations ago. Credibility is an issue we can solve in the head. In the heart we must determine if following God with everything is worthwhile. Here we are wise to note and hearken that the purpose of the Law is “for your own good” in the words of verse 13. This is not difficult for difficulty’s sake, but for our betterment. A coach or teacher who yearns to see their team reach its full potential will discipline and push them and wants everything they’ve got; so it is with God. Love the Lord with all you’ve got; obey him with your heart, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself without partiality as verse 17 describes God. Deuteronomy 10:18-19 continues, “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow,and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.” The nation has grown powerful but is admonished to remember what it was like for their predecessors who were not. We do well to remember today that in our weakness Christ is made strong. Jesus preached that the meek and merciful are blessed (Matthew 5). In summary to Israel in Deuteronomy 10 and to us today: Don’t forget where you’ve come from. Remember how far God has brought you. And lastly, remember in your Bible reading that God isn’t nearly done with Israel yet (we’ve got a lot of the Old Testament to go!) and today that God isn’t nearly done with you yet! What an encouraging and challenging thought: God isn’t nearly done with you yet. Be encouraged as you hold fast to the promises Jesus made to never leave you or forsake you. Be challenged to know there’s some rough edges that God still needs to sand off, disciplining us as disciples to abundant maturity, displaying the Fruit of the Spirit in full. - Pastor Steven