What Does God Really Want?

There are times when following the Lord gets confusing. There are so many voices telling us how we should act if we want to be "Good Christians." There are other voices telling what we should believe to be "in." We get busy with church activities, Christian friends, and at times we wonder if we are truly living an authentic Christian life. The great news is that in reality, the Christian life is quite simple to understand.

Mark informs us in 12:28 that a teacher of the law came to Jesus and asked him a fantastic question. It's a question that should help each of us today. The question was quite simple, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Thank you Mr. Teacher of Law for being so direct because we get to listen in as Jesus responds. We get to peak into the heart of God and see what is important to him.

Jesus responded with, "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all of your mind and with all of your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these." Mark 12:29-31

There it is! No parable, no riddle, and no hidden meaning, Jesus puts it plainly so we can all get it. Jesus summed up for us the ultimate goal of the Christian life. Love is what God is after. Without going into all the theology of it, we must be reminded that just like Israel, we as Christians are in a covenant relationship with the Lord. Jesus spoke of the "New Covenant" that was being offered as a result of his death on the cross. A covenant is like a contract except that it involves people and not property. A covenant is a living bond that goes both ways, meaning both parties are part of the covenant.

Jesus is clearly bringing this covenant to the forefront of their minds when he says that we should love God with our whole being. Why should we do this? Because God has loved us with his whole being and in this covenant we are to return that love. If you want to know how much God loves you take a closer look at that verse. Everything that Jesus says we should do with regards to love, the Father has already loved us in the same manner. In other words, God has already loved us with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength. Praise the Lord. As the Scripture says, we love him because he first loved us!

So with all of the demands that are put on you to perform in your Christian life-teach a class, read a book, be involved in leadership, join a small group, give money and all the rest-what is God looking for? God has been and always will be looking for your desire to be with him and to love him. Everything we do should stem from that desire.

We are often told what activities distinguish whether or not we are "Good Christians." The funny thing is, you and I can do some of those things and not be in love with God at all. I remember quite well early in ministry having a girl in my youth group whose father had been molesting her for years. Yes, he taught a Sunday School class every Sunday. He was always at church and was most certainly considered a "Good Christian." His heart however, was so evil that he was continually raping his own daughter and when his hideous actions were finally exposed he committed suicide. I learned quickly that what you see in people's actions might not tell you at all how they really feel towards God.

The Bible tells us that we look at the outward appearance of man, but God looks intently at the heart. God is not so interested in what we do, but why we do it. God is interested in the motivation behind our actions. The Bible also teaches us that when we do religious duties in the flesh or for the wrong motivation that those activities are pretty much worthless. Because God loves us so much, he wants us in turn to love him, and out of that love should spring our Christian behavior.

I have said it so many times that in my early Christian experience, I was taught to obey not to love. What a horrible tragedy. Can you imagine having a toddler and having your relationship based completely on their obedience to you and not on love? That child would grow up emotionally crippled. For years many preachers communicated that kind of message. The message was come to Christ so you won't go to hell and then be obedient or he will get you and make your life miserable. That just does not lead to a healthy relationship with God at all. God wants first and foremost a loving covenant relationship with us!

I was with a pastor recently and as we shared about our journey with the Lord he reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver ring. It was almost like a key ring; nothing fancy, just a ring. He said, "Do you see this ring? I keep in my pocket all the time and I take it with me wherever I go. It's a physical reminder that God loves me, that he is with me and he wants me to love him." I could understand his actions quite well.

There are many of us who are "visual learners." We have to see things not just hear things in order to get the point. I think Jesus knew many in his audiences were like that as well, thus he would give physical illustrations. I guess that is why I have always liked stained glass windows in cathedrals, they help me see God through the stories they reveal high above the pews.

Maybe you need to carry a ring in your pocket, or a cross or something else that will remind you that God is with you in love, and it is love in return that he most desires. You are in a covenant relationship with God based on love, and that should truly brighten your day!

God Bless You,

Dan

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