What God Wants

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Knowing what God wants is not as difficult as you may expect. He doesn’t hide His expectation from us. He has given clear instruction in the Bible, His Word to us. Like many before us, you may have asked, “How can I please you, God?”

God responded to such a question from Israel. In response to the foolish ways they sought to please God, the prophet Micah gave God’s plain, yet simple answer. They asked about bringing God offerings. About bringing a thousand rams and rivers of oil. About offering Him their firstborn as an expression of devotion.

God’s response through the prophet is straightforward and unmistakable, “He has shown you what is good, O man” (Micah 6:6-7).

What did God show them, you ask? He revealed three things: show justice, love mercy, and be humble. That’s it, only three things—but easier said than done, right?

One - A desire to have justice is not enough, we must also show justice. A Christ follower must live with complete integrity—act justly in every relationship.

Two - We have received mercy. Don’t you just love that! If you do, it should motivate you to show mercy to others, resisting the temptation to retaliate.

Three – drop all vestiges of pride and walk humbly before God. My mentor and pastor for many years, Dr. Richard Strauss, stated over and over, “Walk low before the Lord.”

Some have come to expect that God wants the spectacular, mind blowing acts of service or the eye-popping, dazzling acts of worship. Oh how we complicate the simple desire of God.   

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)