January 18, 2015

What does God Want?

 

And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

-- Deuteronomy 10:12

Let's start with a question: What does God value from you the most? Does He want your service above all else? Does He want you first and foremost to be His hands in feet in this world? Is that what God wants from you?

Or maybe He wants your money first? Be sure to tithe and then some. Is that what God wants first?

What about your heart, your life, your soul?  God wants it all. And especially, He wants your heart.

So, what's most important: Your service or time alone with God? He wants you to want to spend time with Him. It's what makes everything else worthwhile. It's the beginning, the middle and the end. Time alone with God. I've never understood how anyone can make it through a day without that but there's a great many people who try.

Don't get me wrong. Service is a wonderful thing. Certainly, we should be God's hands and feet in this world. We are the light in a world that seems to grow darker an darker with each passing day. But service should be a sprout that emerges from the tender love we receive from spending time alone with God. Then it is natural and we have renewed energy and abilities to do whatever it is He has called us to do.

Sometimes we use service to avoid facing God. We tell ourselves it's all good because we are serving God. He understands. Yeah, actually He does understand. God knows our hearts and He knows when we're avoiding Him.

Why do you think we do that? Maybe there's some sin we'd rather not confess. Maybe there's some hurt we'd rather not face. Maybe there's a direction we'd rather no take. Whatever the reason, sooner or later we will come face to face with God. Then what?

God wants all of us and He won't stop until He gets us. So spend time alone with Him. Remember that no one will ever love you the way God loves you. That's the most important gift you will ever receive. Don't ever take that for granted.