Shalom dear friends,
As we come into Shabbat, I want us to pause and return to something very simple, yet very foundational for our life with God.
In Deuteronomy 10:12, Moses speaks to the people of Israel at a very important moment. They have already walked through the wilderness, seen miracles, experienced failure and restoration, and learned what it means to depend on God. And in this place, before moving forward, Moses brings everything back to one question: “What does the Lord your God ask of you?”It is striking that after everything, the answer is not complicated. And in Hebrew, the word used here is not heavy—it is not a demand, but an invitation. The Lord is asking us to walk with Him in a certain way. Moses then gives five simple, clear directions that shape a life with God.
First, to fear the Lord your God.
In Hebrew, this word carries the sense of seeing. To fear the Lord is not to be afraid, but to live with an awareness of His presence—to know that He is before us, that He sees us, and that we are invited to see Him. When we lose this awareness, we begin to drift. But when we live with this understanding, our hearts come back into alignment, and our choices begin to reflect His presence in our lives.
Second, to walk in all His ways.
Every one of us is walking somewhere, but the question is whose way we are following. For the people of Israel in the wilderness, this was very practical—they followed the cloud and the fire, moving only when the Lord moved. In our lives today, it may look different, but the principle remains the same. We are invited to lay down our own direction and learn to follow His. Sometimes His way is not the easiest, but it is always the right one, and it leads us into life.
Third, to love Him.
This is at the center of everything. God is not looking for empty obedience, but for relationship. To love Him is to respond to who He is—to remember His goodness, His faithfulness, and His mercy, and to choose Him again and again in the middle of daily life. Love for God is not only a feeling; it is something that grows as we walk with Him, becoming deeper, steadier, and more real over time.
Fourth, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
In Hebrew, the word for “serve” also means to work. This reminds us that our faith is not passive—we are invited to take part in what God is doing. We are not standing at a distance, but participating with Him. And it is not just about what we do, but how we do it. God calls us to serve Him wholeheartedly, not out of obligation, but out of a real connection with Him, giving ourselves fully in what He places before us.
Finally, to keep the commandments of the Lord.
The Hebrew word here also means to guard or to protect. It is the picture of holding something close and valuable. God’s Word is not something distant—it is something we carry within us. We are called to protect it, to keep it alive in our hearts, and to allow it to shape how we think, speak, and live.
And then Moses adds something very important: “for your good.” Everything God asks of us is not meant to limit us, but to lead us into His goodness. His ways are life. When we walk in them, we begin to experience His peace, His joy, and His presence in a deeper way.
So as we enter this Shabbat, we are not adding pressure or striving to do more. We are simply returning to what matters most—living with an awareness of Him, walking in His ways, loving Him, serving Him with all our heart, and keeping His Word close.
This is the life He invites us into, and it is a good life.
Shabbat Shalom,
Pastor Israel