Am I Following After Him?

As I’ve been reading through the Old Testament I have been struck anew by just how plain God speaks. There isn’t any guessing as to what He desires. I don’t have to try and figure out what He wants. He has spoken very plainly through Moses what He desires of me.

"Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD'S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?” Duet 10:12,13

These same words are repeated throughout the Old Testament.  (see Matt 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27) As I read these words and ponder them in my heart I find myself asking God if I live a life that obeys them.

Do I fear God? Not fear in the way of being afraid of Him, but do I revere Him? Hold Him in high regard? Do live in such a way that shows I understand who God is?

Do I walk in His ways? Do I obey His word. All of it. Or do I just pick and choose from what I like or what seems right in my own eyes. Do I know His word so that I can obey? Do I spend time with Him through the word so that I can know Him in a deeper way in order to understand how I am to walk?

Do I love Him? Words are cheap. We can say all day that we love God, but do our actions show it? I’ve been challenged on this point a lot lately. God desires more from me that just lip service, He requires a heart that shows love. If I really love God I will want to obey Him, I will want to be in His word. I will serve Him and those God places in my life.

Do I have a servants heart? In the world it’s all about me. What pleases me, what seems right to me and what can others do to serve me. In God’s kingdom it’s all about dying to self and serving others. I should be living a life that seeks the welfare of others. My actions should have the well being of others at the center.

I look at these and am reminded that if I do not fear God, walk in His ways or love Him I will NEVER be able to have a heart that desires to serve the Lord or others.

Do I seek after God? The last thing I want to look at, or ask myself is do I do these things with a great passion?

Do I hunger and thirst after righteousness? Do I follow His steps no matter where they lead? Am I obeying His word even when it cost me everything? Or do I just follow Him as long as I can still be comfortable?

These days I find myself asking some really tough questions. Does my life show that I love God? Am I willing to give up all that I have to follow Him? Am I truly willing to give up this world and all it says I must have or do in order to serve God?

Am I really following, seeking, serving and obeying the God of the Bible or am I trying to follow a God that is safe, comfortable and will not be too costly?

I don’t know. I have no answers for myself but I am asking God to show me the truth of my heart. I want to seek God’s heart. I want to have a faith that is willing to give up all this world has to offer no matter what that means.

Oh Father help me seek you with my whole heart and life!

"But in their distress they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and they sought Him, and He let them find Him. 2 Chron 15:4

O God, You are my God ; I shall seek You earnestly ; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalms 63:1

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him Hebrews 11:6