Have you ever really taken into deep thought, What does God really want from us? What does he seek? What does he desire? Without a doubt, this question has been with mankind since the very beginning. We all have asked it, pondered on it, and even tried to answer it in our own ways.
Usually to get an answer to such a question, you would go back to the very beginning of it. In the book of Genesis, it clearly tells us in the very first chapter, Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness.” Notice Our or Us is used here, representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit that exists in relationship. Now, since we are created in God’s image, we are relational beings, meaning we are not DESIGNED to be hermits, by ourselves, or even self-elaborated Christians. We are to be in unison with God the Father, and fellow servants of His. However, what did the world do? It wanted to confuse things, make it more complicated, more illustrative to the point of bordering personal failure just to try and please our egos, emotions and unstable faith in something we don’t fully understand. In other words, we try to disregard Gods intent and purpose of who we are suppose to be by ignoring Gods ways and Gods desires. What does God really want from us? Knowing our brains are so complex, it is true that we cannot possibly comprehend how all things work, how things truly operate. We cannot create nothing, we merely invent something from things already created. Mankind has tried to harness power from all levels, and even exercise authority to gain control over things we don’t have control over; from other people to the created earth and heavens. Humanity gets confused, side tracked, spoiled and even misplaced in this wonderful world, all because we try to seek and understand what we do not fully know outside of depending on God ways and desires for each of us.
Yet, It is designed in each of us to not just exist or survive, but to grow, expand our horizons, search, seek and go beyond our boundaries, at nearly any cost. How many of you remember when new born calf or colt is born, they almost immediately want to start walking. Its imbedded in them, and us, to not just stay still, but to move. We seem to have power within us that from time to time surprises and even perplexes us with the question, “How is that possible?” All of this, and so much more, are we part of, in the complexity of life, which is rooted on the very question of “Why are we here?” What is Gods purpose, plan, ways and desires!
I am not going to stand before you and even attempt to fully answer the questions. Better yet, I want to reference to you what the Living God is saying to us from His Holy Scripture, the source of all our knowledge and understanding, and to exemplify what we are to do in reply to help satisfy our curiosities and ambition to be more, strive to excel and ultimately live in peace and harmony forever; in this life and the next. So fasten your seatbelts friends; Let us take this journey together and explore God’s Ways and God’s Desires that is designed for each of us.
In reading from one of the minor prophets, Micah was observing Israel in the known southern kingdom, which consisted of tasking the leaders of Israel to make known and rectify their sins. Knowing sin is what separates each of us from God, Micah made a clear approach to the people in declare this very thing.
Lets start at Micah chapter 6 verse 1. “Hear now what the Lord is saying, “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear your voice. 2 Listen, you mountains, to the indictment by the Lord, And you enduring foundations of the earth, Because the Lord has a case against His people; And He will dispute with Israel. 3 My people, what have I done to you, And how have I wearied you? Answer Me.”
So God is basically asking Israel, what have I done to you to sin, to be separated? In doing so, God made a case against Israel for all their unrighteous behavior and actions. Do you not think that is happening today? What is Gods case against our world, nation and even our homes? Now the word case mentioned here in Hebrew is reed, which means to strive, contend. This is not a passive thing, but rather the opposite; and active investigation with all the required evidence. Without much delay, God says Answer Me. “How have I wearied you?” Why are you tired of me? Why are you far from me? Does these questions sound familiar to maybe what we ask God from time to time? Have you ever felt burnt out when doing Gods work? Have you ever felt God was far away? These are not new questions.
But then God does something very miraculous; He gives us a pathway to take, a directional map of what God desires from His chosen people, those who follow Him. Lets go to verse 6, With what shall I come to the Lord And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves? 7 Does the Lord take pleasure in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give Him my firstborn for my wrongdoings, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
What crippling outcome does God give us from this reading to declare He is righteous, Holy and almighty God, yet, what could we possibly do to make a serious atonement for our sins? What could we really do to ask God to forgive us? Do we surrender all our offerings to God with mountains of rams and oceans of oil in hopes He will forgive us? Do we even give up our children as a sacrifice to even attempt to redeem our sinful nature, as Abraham was instructed to do so by God? But what happened? God said NO! Scripture tells us “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice!” The ONLY solution to sin friends, was a blood atonement from a spotless animal, which mankind did not contain; until Christ came! Listen to what the Book of Leviticus chapter 17 tells us, “for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.” The only solution to cover sin was from the blood of the spotless lamb of God. It is Christ whom came to full fill the prophecy, to complete Gods redemptive story. In hearing this, I ask again, What does God want from us? Listen to what is said in Micah 6 verse 8. 8 He has told you [Which is God], mortal one, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice [What is just in eyes of God], to love kindness [Mercy], And to walk humbly with your God [Being Humble]? There it is! Moffatt translated this verse into something a little more open. “To be just and kind and live in quiet fellowship with your God.”
Repeat them: Do What is Just in Gods Eyes, Have Mercy To Everyone, Walk Humbly With Our God! This passage represents the persistence of what we humans are to sacrifice. Do we seek Godly Justice, or Worldly Justice? Do we seek Godly Kindness or Mercy, or what Mercy or Kindness the World teaches? Do we walk humbly with the living God, creator of heaven and earth, or are we afraid to, that what the world might do to us if we serve Him? This passage serves a more definite purpose to all who call God our Lord and savior; as there is no ritual, rite, tradition or substitution that can be taken as the will of God for man. God wants none of these things. Guess what he wants? Justice, Mercy and Humility! Notice something here; Each one of these attributes that God declares for us to do roots in a personal conviction and attitude which indicates a certain kind of relationship with others, not just Him. Also notice that these are not passive actions; you don’t sit down and wait, these require acts of obedience. Does not scripture tell us “He who has an ear, let them hear?” This is to the point! When reading this, are we not seeing Christ into this same picture of stewardship? Do we not see what Christ came to do in this very same objective? Its not about rituals, or even what our rites was. And even to go further, I will say that as Christ declared his majesty to all the world by being the Son of the Living God, He also gave us the ownership of the responsibility to carry on His work that was set before us. Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” There is nothing passive about this instruction. We do Godly Justice, We Give Godly Mercy and we Walk Humbly Before God by doing His mighty work for our fellow man.
In closing friends, let us look at these three attributes a little closer.
Godly Justice! The Hebrew word Mishpat which means to act of deciding a case, which would include a sentence. To give an ordinance of law for mankind to follow by Gods design, and upon breaking those laws, consequences will be implemented. We are to have legal right to Gods promises and privileges based upon His solemn word; while we must act and perform in proper fitting measure as a righteous follower of God.
Godly Mercy! The Hebrew word checed which means kindness of men towards men, in doing favours and benefits especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable; “Don’t just show mercy, but love to show it. Give others the same measure of mercy you want to receive from Me.”
Walk Humbly before God! The Hebrew word tsaw-nah which means to be modest or humble; give honor and homage to God from the least to the greatest of people; in all things Give God the glory and reverence while always submitting to His will which is the best thing for you. As Jesus said in Gospel of Mark, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” We are to Serve one another. Jesus said in the Gospel of John, “So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” Reverend Spurgeon made this remark. “True humility is thinking rightly of yourself, not meanly. When you have found out what you really are, you will be humble, for you are nothing to boast of. To be humble will make you safe. To be humble will make you happy. To be humble will make music in your heart when you go to bed. To be humble here will make you wake up in the likeness of your Master by-and-by.” I hope and pray you are getting the picture friends.
By no means am I trying to place Gods infinite wisdom into just a few words to live by. What this does though is give us a glimpse into what God ways and Gods desires are expected for each of us. Our lives as Christians are not to sit passive, on the side lines and just wait until something happens for us to act, which maybe too late. Countless times friends, God has shown us clearly what is good and what I require of us. We don’t serve God because He just tells us to, its because we want to. He desires a relationship with His children. We are to become a Holy and Living Sacrifice! We are the temple of God! We have something very special in us whom are Christians, whom calls God our Savior, Our Lord, Our Master! Gods living spirit exists inside each of us. The same spirit that brought Lazarus from the dead, the same spirit that split the waters wide open, the same spirit that healed the mute, the deaf, the diseased and the blind. The same spirit that crushed the enemies of God and layed them out flat. God’s desires and ways is for us to Live life fully with Him at the helm. Gods ways and Gods desires is for each of us call the Living God our Heavenly Father, and not just by word, but by acts of faith. SO let us rejoice friends knowing Gods ways and desires should also be ours. Amen