A duty is a responsibility from God upon us to discharge. We perform the duty to glorify God in obedience and in reverence through Christ Jesus our Lord. The duty is one but in two categories, towards God and towards man. Everybody has a duty from God which is why we were born. While we may have a common duty as a people, we also have individual duties. Each of us will account for our stewardship in both categories. Jesus made this clear in Matthew 25: 14-30.
Upon our failure to discharge the duties reposed on us, we will cease to be relevant for God and he will discharge with our relationship. Jesus emphasized this fact in Matthew 25: 31- 46 referring to sheep and goats; and our duty of care (paraphrased). He illustrated our relevance to God with the relevance of salt in Matthew 5: 13 saying if salt has lost its taste… it is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. In the same passage, he also likened us to the purpose of light.
What do we need in order to perform?
God has given us what we need to perform the duties. He has given us Christ Jesus, Philippians 4: 13; God’s sufficient, 2 Corinthians 12: 9; Jesus’ companionship to the end of the age, Matthew 28: 20; God’s protection against temptation beyond our strength, 1 Corinthians 10: 13; the privilege to call on him in the day of trouble, Psalms 50: 15; and an unfettered access to his Holy Spirit to teach and to remind us of what Jesus has taught us and what we need to know, John 14: 26. There are many more privileges.
What do our duties entail?
Sadly, a number of us are ignorant of what is expected from us. We are led by the Holy Spirit to give some examples though not in any way exhaustive.
A duty to keep true worship
God demands honest worship. John 4: 24 says God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. To worship in spirit is to yield our minds, souls and spirit to God’s control and pleasure. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20… you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body. God is interested also in our bodies, not only our hearts.
God sees through all our vain worship. Jesus said in Matthew 15: 8 these people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines. God is not interested in human precepts. 1 Samuel 16: 7 says they (human beings) look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. True worship is keeping the integrity of our lives. 1 Kings 9: 4 says… David… walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my ordinances. Do we worship in truth?
A duty to keep righteousness
We are to change from our old ways and embrace his ways in repentance. Ezekiel 14: 6 says thus says the LORD; Repent and turn away from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. The bible also says in Ezekiel 18: 30, Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise, iniquity will be your ruin. Christ Jesus came to show us the way and to help us to succeed in fulfilling our duties to God. Without righteousness in Christ Jesus, we cannot make it in eternity.
John the Baptist said of repentance in Matthew 3: 8 bear fruit worthy of repentance. In effect repentance does not lie in mere statements but the fruit we bear, the good we do and the evil we avoid for the sake of Christ Jesus. Jesus said in Revelation 2: 16 repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and make war against them with a sword of my mouth. True righteousness is leading the life of Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 11: 29 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. Are we leading the life of Christ Jesus?
A duty to love God as Jesus did
Our duty is to love because God is love and he showed it through Christ Jesus, John 3: 16. Jesus said in Mark 12: 29-31… the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. Whoever loves God must love Jesus, and vice versa because they are one.
Jesus commended the Good Samaritan to the people in Luke 10 37, “Go and do likewise”. Jesus said in John 13: 34, I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. (Read also John 15: 17). Paul also said in Romans 12: 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. If we love God, we will obey his commandments to love.
The foundation of sin is failure to love. 1 John 4: 8 says, whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. (Read 1 John 4: 12) God is love and he created us in his own image, Genesis 9: 6. It is written in 1 John 4: 20, those who say, “I love God”, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. So 1 John 2: 22 says who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Do we doubt Jesus’ capacity?
Reflection for the day
Are we true in our worship? Are we thirsty for righteousness? Do we truly love God, and our neighbour? We do not have the option to pick and choose from God’s commandments but to obey. James 2: 10-11 said for whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. Have we done our duties?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we have fallen short of performing our duties contrary to your will. We are sorry and ask for pardon. We surrender our will to your Holy Spirit to be faithful in heart. Give us the grace to do our duties in obedience, humbled by your Holy Spirit. Hear our prayers in your holy name, Amen!!
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