What Does God Desire?
Transcript:
Hello. This is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.
Do you really know God or are you just busy doing a lot of things for Him?
What does God want from you? Does He want your busyness or a relationship? Does He want what you can do for Him, or do you think He wants you?
Well, the more fundamental question is, not what you think, but what God thinks? In Hosea 6:6 God corrects the Israelites for their false and perfunctory worship of Him. They were doing many things “for God”, but there was no heartfelt knowledge of God. Listen to the words of God through the prophet Hosea: “For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” True religion does not boil down to a divine “honey-do list,” rather it boils down to a change of heart that desires to know God above all else.
You find a similar misunderstanding in the famous Mary and Martha scene from Luke 10. Personally, I can relate to Martha because she is so busy and distracted. But it is Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, just listening and learning, who is commended by our Lord. Jesus corrects Martha: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). What’s the “good part”? Being in relationship with Jesus.
How about you? Have you chosen the “good part”? Are you merely checking your list, or are you seeking to know Him and be known by Him? These are two very different things.
Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.
“Come, let’s return to the Lord.
For He has torn us, but He will heal us;
He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.
He will revive us after two days;
He will raise us up on the third day,
That we may live before Him.
So let’s learn, let’s press on to know the Lord.
His appearance is as sure as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
As the spring rain waters the earth.”
What shall I do with you, Ephraim?
What shall I do with you, Judah?
For your loyalty is like a morning cloud,
And like the dew which goes away early.
Therefore I have cut them in pieces by the prophets;
I have slain them by the words of My mouth;
And the judgments on you are like the light that shines.
For I desire loyalty rather than sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
~ Hosea 1:1-6 (NASB)