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                                   What Does God Expect of You?

           Recently, my mind was wandering.  As I thought about Bible study and my teachings on our Christian duty, the Revival with Sister Marla Abe’s wonderful teaching on prayer, Sunday School lessons about Living in Enemy Territory, our Church hosting the Southern PA District Women’s Luncheon and one of the guest speakers, Nancy Shoap’s  book on God’s, “His Everyday Promises”, several questions popped into my head.  If I were to write a book or had the opportunity to speak a message to Christians around the world, what would they need to know?  What should be said that would help them in their walk of faith in the world, as it is, today? 

We tend to think first, about what we want or desire from God rather than what He expects from us.  Therefore, I found myself thinking about, and making a list of things God wants and expects of us.  As a believer, a disciple, who wants to be faithful what should we be doing?  What should our behavior entail?  What is it exactly that God desires of us?  I went to my Bible and began searching for the texts that names specific actions God is constantly calling forth out of each of us.  I must confess, to my surprise, the list grew quickly and I found these requests from God prominently featured and reoccurring throughout Scripture.   When I had completed my list I began ordering them according to what I sensed would be God’s desire but found it lacking.  So … I will let you be the judge as I offer it to you for application in your daily walk of faith.

1.  Worship, Love & Serve Him, Alone – to express our love and passion filled devotion to Him.

2.  Fear, Honor & Remember His Name – to feel for God a profound awe and respect, so deeply  within us that no day can come without Him as part of it. 

3.  Read, Study & Reverence His Word – to pursue knowledge of what God has spoken to us and purposely apply it to our living.

4.  Trust in & Depend on Him – to confidently rely upon and giving custody of our lives to His care and keeping expecting with assurance the best outcome.

5.  Accept His Love & Forgiveness – to willingly and gladly be given both affection and pardon aka “Mercy & Grace” from God.

6.  Live in Obedience, Keeping His Commands & Your Vows – to submit to the authority of God, surrendering control of your future to Him, promising to make His will binding without exception.

7.  Stay in constant Prayer/Conversation/Inclusion with/of Him – to appeal to or address God spontaneously, listening and sharing, in anticipation of His interaction.

8. Witness/Testimony - to declare the truth of God’s demonstrated love for and interests in the welfare of humanity by public assertion.  To offer proof by examples; of cross-bearing and acts of compassion for the weak and encourage others to do the same. 

9.  Submit to & Grow in the Teaching & Guidance of the Holy Spirit – receive instruction, knowledge and skills useful in the walk and witness of our faith.  To learn for yourself and point out to others the one true Omnipotent God. 

10.  Care for His Creation – to be good stewards of the things made of God in   
   this world over which He has given us charge including how we interact  
   with our all others of humanity.

 11.  Defend the Faith, Stand against the Enemy - to shine the light of truth
   exposing evil, sin and deceit, the deeds of darkness, to rebuke or
   “admonish” acts and teachings contrary to that of God, to resist sin’s
   temptation and attack with the help of God.

 12.  Prepare, Watch & Be Ready – doing the work of the faith while being on
    the lookout for the return, aka, 2^nd coming of our Lord, seeing we have
    done all we are able to layup treasures in His kingdom. 
 

If you consider yourself, or desire to be, a true disciple of Christ then work diligently on all twelve of these requests from God.  It is clear we have much work to do.  Only with His help and strength … shall it be! 

                                                                                Bro. Earl