THE LORD’S DESIRE
As human beings we most often think about what we want and desire on a personal level. Whether one is wealthy or poor, there is probably in the back of the mind a list of what material things that one would like to have. Already having or not having is probably not a factor. The wants and desires are not only a part of human life materially, but also in many other ways also, such as socially and spiritually. Since the time of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-13), Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2), Saul (1 Samuel 15), and Demas (2 Timothy 4:10), human beings have allowed their personal desires to rise above and beyond the Lord’s will. So, the question becomes, what does the Lord desire of us? Jesus coming to the earth reminds us that God’s desire must come before ours (Matthew 6:33, John 17:17), however, that is one of the greatest challenges that man faces.
In the Old Testament Moses called the children of Israel together in the wilderness to read the Word of God to them again. Moses said, “Hear, O Israel, the statues and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them” (Deuteronomy 5:1). Note two important challenges that Moses gave to the people of God on that day. One was to learn the statues of the Lord. They, individually and as the people of God needed to read, learn, and understand what the Lord desired of them. As the New Testament times were beginning Jesus instructed the apostles to “Go therefore and make disciple so fall nations…” (Matthew 28:19). The phrase “make disciples” is a teaching and learning process. The apostles were going to be teaching the gospel to the people, and the people would be hearing and learning the gospel message. Jesus then said, “…baptizing them…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20). The very thing that Moses said to the children of Israel is seen in principle by the words of Jesus. As Christians we have the written Word of God that is to be the source of our Bible study. Second, Moses said to the children of Israel, “be careful to observe them”. The word “careful” does not appear in the ASV or KJV, but does in the NKJV, NASV, ESV, and RSV. The implication of the word is to give a special attention to not only hear and learn, but to also do the will of God. James wrote, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). The Lord’s desire is that we hear and learn the will of God and then be careful to carry it out in our lives.
As the Ten Commandments were read God could see the reaction of the children of Israel and heard what they were saying. The Lord responded by saying to Moses, “I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. Oh that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments…” (Deuteronomy 5:28-29). There are a couple of things to note from God’s response.
First, God is not far from us. He is not far from us as human beings as Paul told the people in Athens, “…He is not far from each one of us, for in Him we live and move and have our being…” (Acts 17:27-28), and God is not far from the faithful, (Matthew 28:20) – “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. Even though throughout their history the children of Israel left God and forgot about the Law, God did not leave them, and God will not leave his people today.
Second, God desires that his will be in our hearts and not just in the mind as academic knowledge. The Lord said, “Oh that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me…” God desires the heart of man and that means that he desires our volition and love for him. As Jesus said, the greatest commandment is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37), and he also said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Our love and devotion are expressed to God when we understand his will and then submit to it with a humble heart.
Third, God desires that we keep, or do all his will. Some are satisfied with just believing in God but not acting upon that belief as to obey God. Some are satisfied to have the attitude of some in Rome, “shall we continue in sin that grace may abound” (Romans 6:1). Some are seeking to serve God in a pharisaical manner, holding others to the fire, but not themselves. The keeping of God’s will does not turn to the right or to the left, as was commanded to Joshua. “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you, do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7).