By what name do we call God? What we believe about God may be revealed in the way we refer to him. Is he the “man upstairs” or the big guy? One thing Moses knew for sure as he descended glowing from the mountaintop, having received tablets engraved by the finger of God: the Lord of heaven and earth was not to be taken lightly.
What did God really want from his people? For them to memorize the ten commandments? Were they to become masters of the rituals? Moses wanted people to know God face to face as he did. With five verbs he helps us to live with God in a wonderful relationship: fear the Lord, walk in obedience to him, love him, serve him and observe his commands and decrees. Before we know God’s law we must know God.
To know him is to hold him in reverence which leads to obedience. We love God first and best. We serve him with all that we are. Then we are prepared to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees.
Do we ever doubt God’s heart? Is our God a cosmic kill-joy who is desperately concerned that we might actually enjoy ourselves? No. God gives us relationship and rules for our own good. In his essence God is inestimably good. He is good and he does good. To know him is to trust that what he wants for us is even better than what we want for ourselves. Often we would settle for less than God’s very best. Not you, though. Not this year. God has given us life and shown us the way to live because he wants the very best for us. No wonder we call him Savior!
