So many books have been written on questions such as, “Why am I here?” or “What is my purpose?”. Much of our growing up experiences involve wondering what we will become when we are an adult. Some even look toward the future with agonizing frustration as they seem unable to determine the correct path to take to lead them to where they need to go. Yet, all we need to do is look to God’s Word. He has given us a charge, the charge to love Him and follow His statutes, judgments and commandments.

“Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.“ Deuteronomy 11:1

This charge was given to the children of Israel, but is still holds true for us today. So what is a charge? Webster defines it in this context as someone imposing a task or responsibility on another. God gave them a task, a responsibility as His people to love Him, follow Him, and keep His commandments.

Often we contemplate what it is that God is directing us toward; asking the question, “What does God want me to do?” As with the children of Israel, God has given us a charge, just as David gave this same charge to his son Solomon in I Kings 2:3.

“And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:” 1 Kings 2:3

God has given us a charge; a responsibility that we are asked to fulfill, a task that we are to perform. The “how” associated with completing this task becomes possible as we start each day seeking God; spending time with Him, loving Him for who He is in all things. Through time in His Word, we find direction and clarity for our lives. Each day we see Him working, guiding us toward the path He is establishing before us.

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.” Psalm 63:1-4

As we see God for who He is we understand that it is through His power that we are able to complete the charge He has given us. Keeping the charge becomes possible as we surrender to Him, coming before Him with a heart of praise, loving Him with all of our heart, and seeking to follow His commandments. As we learn to love Him and follow Him, He makes a way before us guiding us toward the way ahead. All we have to do is follow, He provides all that we need to complete the work He has given us to do. “Keeping His charge” no longer seems burdensome.

Looking back in Deuteronomy 11, we are reminded of the blessing and the curse given to the children of Israel in regard to the charge that God laid before them. There are blessings in keeping the charge, but there is a curse upon the lives of those that fail to complete the task they have been given. God will bless our work, but He will judge our failure to keep the charge He has given us to do.

” Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.” Deuteronomy 11:26-28

I hunger for the blessings that come from “Keeping His Charge“. ” Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6