Session 4

What does God ask of you?

From Chasing Purpose: A 27-Day Devotional

Have you ever known someone who could complicate even the simplest task? Christians are some of the best at this.

When God provides simple, clear instructions, it seems too good to be true. So we add on more and more rules and requirements until following God seems impossible to do. Then, when we’re challenged to do something Scripture clearly commands, we find we’re too busy, too tired, and stretched too thin to do the one thing that will give us life again.

Deuteronomy 10:12 summarizes all of what God wants from us with these simple instructions: love Him, serve Him with your whole heart and soul, and observe His commands. Jesus reinforced this teaching telling his followers to “love God and love others” and reminding them that the way they show their love for God is by doing what He says (Mark 12:30-31 and John 14:15).

How much of what we do every day has God actually asked us to do? How much of what we do is us cramming extra stuff into our lives? When we focus on things God didn’t ask of us, the result is striving, busyness, disappointment, and emptiness.

Perhaps it’s time to redefine success. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Jesus died so we could have a relationship with God. This connection is easy to enter into — just confess and believe (Romans 10:9). And the responsibility that comes with this relationship was never meant to be heavy.

In farming, a yoke connects two animals so they move in step with each other. That’s what serving and obeying God was always meant to feel like — moving in step with Him throughout the day, knowing that as long as we’re connected and following His lead, we are right where we need to be.

Reflect:

• What’s one way you’ve overcomplicated what it means to follow Jesus?
  
• Does it ever feel like you and God are pulling in opposite directions? Why is that? Take a few minutes today to talk to God about where you feel out of sync. Ask Him to reveal anything that might be keeping you out of step with Him.