What do we know about GOD?
- GOD is not like you and me. The Bible tells us that GOD is not a human being, and he will not lie. He is not a human, and he does not change his mind. What he says he will do, he does. What he promises, he makes come true. Numbers 23:19; ….everything He does is right. Psalm 33:4
- GOD never changes His mind, never asks anything of you that He has not equipped you for, never judges you unfairly, readily forgives you as often as you need forgiveness, and always keeps His promises.
- GOD is consistent. Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of consistent is: free from variation or contradiction.
- GOD is incomprehensible and so is his love – we cannot fathom GOD and we cannot fathom His love. It is divine. GOD alone is capable of loving each of us uniquely.
Does this sound like someone who needs a mere mortal to do
anything to make His life better, easier, or more fulfilling?
So, why then does GOD give us commands in His WORD?
You’ve heard it said that the Bible is GOD’s love letter to the
world – to you and to me. But what does that mean?
The entire Bible is GOD’s
story about Himself – His holiness, His goodness, His grace, His
mercy. And it is about a plan to redeem lost creation; those whom He created in
His
own image and likeness. You!
GOD set that plan in motion in Genesis and when the time was
right, He came to earth to finish it. He made Himself visible to us in the
person of JESUS, the GOD Man. GOD incarnate - “The WORD became a human and lived among us.” John 1:14a
“God loved the world
so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may
not be lost, but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to
judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17
All of GOD’s commands to us are designed to restore to you
the same intimacy Adam and Eve enjoyed with Him before the Fall. (Genesis
3:8) To bring you back to Him.
GOD’s commands benefit you, and because He leaves nothing to
chance, He tells you exactly which ones would assure your success:
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength…Love
your neighbor as you love yourself. There are no commands more important than
these. Mark 12:30-31
All that you “do” for GOD must flow from those two commands
to love, or it’s nothing but fleshly effort. The heart is not involved. Love is
missing.
So, what does GOD want from you?
The Old Testament prophet Micah records a conversation with the
Nation of Israel in which they are asking the same question, why isn’t what
we’re doing for God enough – what does GOD want from us? The answer GOD gives
the prophet for the people is the same as it is in the New Testament command,
love me, love other people. (Micah
6:6-8.)
The Pharisees in the New Testament were known for their public
displays of works, fasting and prayer – all done to impress others with their
holiness. JESUS told them that their efforts were meaningless rituals and neither
they nor their followers would get into GOD’s Kingdom unless their hearts were changed.
(Matthew
5:20)
JESUS also used the gospel parable of the Prodigal Son to expose
the Pharisees’ self-righteousness and spirit of entitlement in the older son’s behavior
towards his younger brother. ‘I have
served you like a slave for many years and have always obeyed your commands….your
other son, who wasted all your money on prostitutes, comes home, and you kill
the fat calf for him!’ Luke 15:29-30
Like the Pharisees, the older son thought works would make
him more deserving of his father’s love and resources. But his father’s
response shows otherwise – ‘Son, you are
always with me, and all that I have is yours….” Luke 15:31
In this parable the father represents our
heavenly Father and the sons GOD’s children. The story confirms that a child of
GOD is always a child of GOD and all that the Father has belongs to you. You don’t
have to prove yourself. The Christian life is not a contest that you’re in to
win points and favor with GOD.
What does GOD want from you, then? The answer is simple.…GOD wants you.
When you give yourself totally to Him, His Holy Spirit
empowers you to love GOD fully and serve Him from the right motive.
Unless love for GOD is your motivation, your good works are
only a performance that results in pride and legalism – and neither pleases GOD.
This type of serving feels like drudgery and isn’t satisfying for you or the served.
(1
Corinthians 13:1-2)
You don’t so much do things for someone you love, but
because of them.
By His very nature, GOD is easy to love and please – more so
than the people in your life.
To know GOD is to love GOD. To
love GOD is to obey Him.
Is it possible that your love for GOD has grown cold? You're not the first.
In the Book of Revelation, the risen JESUS is dictating
messages to the disciple John for the churches of that time. For the Church in
Ephesus, JESUS first recounts all their admirable qualities but then He names their
biggest and most grievous flaw – “But I have this complaint against
you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look
how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at
first.” Revelation 2: 4-5
When loving GOD is priority rather than just serving
Him, we end up doing both. If we skip the relationship, our service benefits
nothing. (1
Corinthians 13:1-2
In 2
Corinthians 13:5, the apostle Paul asks the Corinthian church to
examine themselves to be sure that they are followers of CHRIST JESUS.
If serving GOD with joy has become a struggle for you, it
may be time to stop and take inventory. Turn back to JESUS so you can turn back to GOD and do the
works you did at first – love GOD and others.
Conclusion:
Don’t become so focused on “doing for GOD” that you neglect
what GOD really wants from you.
GOD wants us to love Him with all our hearts and let our service
be from a heartfelt desire to please Him.
The Lord has told you, human, what is good; he has told you what he
wants from you: to do what is right to other people, love being kind to others,
and live humbly, obeying your God. Micah 6:8
Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, thank YOU for
always being there for us and showing us truth in YOUR WORD – that we don’t
have to perform to gain YOUR approval because all of YOU belongs to us, YOUR
children. All for the taking, all at no cost to us, and all because of YOUR
enduring love! Forgive us for complicating your simple rule for our lives –
love YOU and love others. Thank YOU for JESUS and the Holy Spirit that enable
us to do all things according to YOUR will. Remind us that it all works for our
good and YOUR glory, for all dominion and power belong to YOU. We pray and ask
all things in the Name of JESUS. Amen.
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
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