Deuteronomy 10.12, 13

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?”

How can God require anything of human beings? There are three reasons.

First, He made all people, and He sustains them by His steadfast love and faithfulness. The all-powerful and all-wise God knows what conduces to humankind’s wellbeing, having conceived, created, and cared for us from the beginning. There is a way that seems right to men, but unless that way comports with what God requires, it must always disappoint (Prov. 14.12).

Second, He is Lord. He is holy, pure, righteous, good, true, and eternal. Whatever He does is right and true. The earth and everything in it are His (Ps. 24.1). He is able by virtue of Who He is to require of every creature whatever He ordains or determines; and we, His image-bearers, should realize that He only intends His commandments for our good, that we may know full and abundant life in them (Lev. 18.1-5).

Third, He is our Redeemer, Who has graciously given His own Son for our salvation, and Who, with Him, freely gives us all things (Rom. 8.28-32). He Who has done so much for us can in no way intend evil for us; thus, when our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer informs us what He requires of us, we, out of gratitude, must listen, heed, and obey.

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