In my last blog entry, I said the first and foremost truth I want to convey is "God loves us and wants an intimate relationship with each of us." This includes you, whoever you are. I concluded that article by saying the first step in having that type of relationship with God is to believe in and accept (i.e. receive) his Son, Jesus Christ.
      Lately, I've been reading Deuteronomy in the Living Bible. The words in chapter ten seem to be in bold print: What does God require of us? "... to listen carefully to all he says to you, and to obey for your own good the commandments ..., and to love him, and to worship him with all your hearts and souls" vv. 12-13.
      Deuteronomy 11:22 reiterates the idea: obey God, love him, walk in his ways, cling to him.
      Micah 6:8 NIV, says the same thing in a slightly different way. We are to 1. act justly (i.e. do what is right, obey God,) 2. love mercy (or show) mercy (i.e. be merciful by loving one another as Christ loves us. This is how we show we love God), and 3. walk humbly with your God (i.e. live in him through his Holy Spirit, dependent on him, or clinging to him.)  
      To worship God means to honor him above all else, to consider him of utmost importance in our lives. I keep thinking of a song we used to sing in church and which my son used to like from Bible Camp. It uses the words in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, (RSV), "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD, and you shall love the LORD with all your heart, and you shall love the LORD with all your soul. You shall love the LORD with all your strength, and you shall love the LORD with all your might." 
      If we love him like that, we will listen to him and obey him. God is the creator of all that is good. He is almighty, all-knowing, just and holy, merciful, compassionate and longs for a personal relationship with each of us. How can we not respect him above all others, worship him and cling to him? His commandments are not burdensome, but are for our good. "And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us" (I John 3:23, RSV)."         

                                    (See page 3 of my web site, Spokesman-Ink.org/ for a song I wrote, 
                                                which relates to this article, called "I Love You, LORD!")