Galatians419: What God Wants for You

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

What God Wants for You

By Allen White

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11

My sons are at an age where both stones and snakes would have great appeal, but they wouldn’t be interested in eating either one. Most parents know how to give good things to their kids. If your house is anything like mine, there is no lack of stuff. We give our kids what they need, and we give them some of the things they want.

God is our Heavenly Father. For some, that’s a little hard to take. If our Heavenly Father is anything like their earthly father, there’s a big problem. (Read about the link here).

God created us along with everything else that exists. God gave each of us a unique purpose for our time here on this earth. God also gave us the gifts and abilities to fulfill that purpose.

God wants our lives to be successful. That may or may not involve monetary success, but if you’re reaching this devotional from a computer over an internet connection or on your mobile phone in a climate controlled environment, you’re pretty rich compared to the rest of the world.

God desires for you and me to become like His son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). Jesus is sinless, so God erases our sins (Colossians 1:13-14). Jesus has great character, so God uses the bumps and bruises of our lives to develop godly character (Romans 5:3-4). Jesus was put on this earth to serve others. God wants the same of us, because only in serving are we truly satisfied.

Some are deluded into thinking that following God involves God taking away rather than giving. “God doesn’t want me to have any fun.” That’s simply not true. God delights in us. God gave us an entire world to enjoy. He desires for us to experience abundant life. Joy is a byproduct of our connection to Him.

God knows how to give good gifts to you. Are you willing to receive them? Are you willing to forsake the ways of the world and follow His ways? Are you willing to admit that God knows better than you?

May God be gracious to us and bless us

and make his face shine on us—

so that your ways may be known on earth,

your salvation among all nations.

May the peoples praise you, God;

may all the peoples praise you.

May the nations be glad and sing for joy,

for you rule the peoples with equity

and guide the nations of the earth.

May the peoples praise you, God;

may all the peoples praise you.

The land yields its harvest;