| “What
Does God Want From Me?””So often we make things in life more
complicated than they need to be. We exhaust resources and spend our time to
find answers to things that God has already made known to us. From the
beginning He has wanted a relationship with us (Gen. 3:8). His Son came to
make a way for that relationship to continue (John 1:1&14). But many
times we fail to appreciate just what it is that God wants from
us.””A. Learn to focus your
life on the
things. (Micah 6:6-8)””1.
We are wonderfully made (Psalm 139:4)””2. Keep serving from becoming just a duty and
living by a list (Matt. 23:23; Mal.1:6-8, 14)””a. Understand what He truly asks of us. Micah 6:8 – Remember that you were created
in His image (Matt 5:7; Eph. 4:1)””(1) Justice – He deserves all that He has asked
of us (Rev.4:11)””(2) Loving
Kindness – He has been so kind and forgiving to us, can we not do the same?
(Titus 3:4- 5)””(3) Walking
Humbly with Him – (James 4:8; Eph. 5:2,8)””B. Put God in the place He
to be (Ecc.
12:13)””1. The Preacher in
Ecclesiastes spends much of the book talking about the vanities of life.
(1:14,16-17; 2:11; 5:10; 9:11) After
considering all these saying from a few thousand years ago, is life much
different now?””2. How much of
what we do in this life is devoted to what is most important? (Luke
10:38-42).””3. Casting out
vanity for the Fear of the Lord (Psalm 33:8,18)””a. We spend much time complicating our earthly
life with worry and fear””b.
The fear of the Lord & commitment to His commandments will
re-direct the way we look at things (Matt 6:25-33; Ps.37:25; Luke 22:24-26;
Matt.10:28)””C. Develop a
heart that is
(Mark 12:28-34)””1.
Jesus asserts that this is “the most important” command. Quoted from
Deut.6:5″”a. “All your
heart” shows a relationship that starts from within (Prov.4:23)””b. “All your soul” speaks to your entire being
honoring God””c. “All your
strength” (might) encompassing every way you can, all you have””2. When we approach life with this thinking,
understanding the depth of what Jesus means here, it changes how we go about
what we do each day.””There is no need to struggle understanding
what God wants from man. We don’t have to wonder what to do.
God””has plainly told us is in simple ways. The key is to be
willing to change our focus to the things He has revealed and to have the
trust needed to depend on His faithful fulfillment of all He has promised.” |
