What do You Want From me?!

I used to often wonder what it is that God wants from me... I mean, what can I really do for Him? An all powerful God wants something from a little, insignificant, skinny, blond kid from a small city..? But what is it? I know something it's not... Or at least it better not be or I'll be coming up WAY SHORT (no pun intended ;o) Perfection... If God had been looking for perfection he had it in heaven with throngs of angels worshipping him, with streets of Gold, with more than we can even imagine, God would have had no reason to ever create us... Nevertheless, here we are, so what was God looking for when he created us?

The Bible says we are made in God's image. Contrary to lots of other beliefs, I think "made in His image" means the core of humanity is made in God's image... In order to figure out which part of us is made in God's image we have to figure out what all of humanity has in common. There is only one thing every single human being has in common: EVERYONE, no matter culture, age, race or temperament wants to be loved. From humanity's one common thread we can see God's only desire; he wants to be loved by us. The whole point of our relationship with God is that He wants to be chosen over anything else.

If you truly love someone you put them ahead of anyone else and anything else, including yourself... You are committed to that person, you make effort to grow closer to them, you hold to them more closely than anything or anyone else, you talk to them as much as possible, you are faithful to them and if you have a weekly date planned you best not be standing them up ;o) So why would we skip out on church or prayer meetings... Why wouldn't we talk to God everyday, even when we aren't in church, isn't the point of a relationship more the private moments you get to share with your love rather than the publicity of it all? You wouldn't allow people to easily destroy your relationship with someone you love so why do you just want to give up on your relationship with God when people act stupid or speak poorly of you? The Bible tells us people speaking poorly of us and treating us harshly shouldn't surprise us because they first treated Jesus in that same manner.

You MUST put your relationship with God before your feelings, press through negative thoughts and get your bum in a church pew! The Bible instructs us not to forsake the "gathering together of the saints." I promise, it will all work out in the end, better yet, the Bible promises you that! Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." People will see the truth, it may take a while because they're slow at times ;o) but they will see because God will make reveal truth.

Even though your current circumstances may suck (yes that's the word I've chosen because sometimes it's just appropriate) the hard times will teach you that you can and MUST trust, love and lean on God no matter what else is happening around you. God will take care of you. The road is rough and long and a lot of hard work but in the end you'll know God in a deeper and more intimate way and it's all worth it!