December  4                                   Zech 7 - 10

UTMOST DESIRE

MEMORISE: ’And he said unto him, if thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.’ (Exod 33:15)
READ: Psalm 42: 1- 2

‘One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his templt’ (Ps 27:4). To be a favourite wife is not easy. They greatest desire of a favourite wife is to be at her husband’s side at all times. According to David, the ultimate desire of the sanctified is the divine presence of God. David compares that desire with the thirst of a hunted deer. In Psalm 84: 1-4 David added that his desire for God was not limited to his soul, but that even his flesh was crying for Him. David must have been truly sanctified. Little wonder God said that David was a man after his own heart. It explains why God forgave him for adultery and murder, and why God retained him as King, even at a time when he should have been rejected. This is also why God could name Jesus the sons of David.

Before David, Moses also craved God’s presence. ‘And he said if thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence’ (Exod 33:15). Moses went to the mountaintop to be in his presence for 40 days and nights. He cherished God’s presence meant a great deal to Moses. How much of God’s presence do you carry with you? When last did you do something for him just because you love him and because you wanted to be in his presence? So often we are self-centred. We serve God for materials gains: promotion, prosperity or victory over our enemies.

Truly sanctified people serve God because they love him and they want to be with him; the material blessings are merely a bonus. If you are sanctified, you will obey God, pay your tithes, bring your offerings, sow seeds and be actively engaged in God’s service. You would be prepared to make any sacrifice for God, not because anybody tells you to, but because you love him and want to please him. Why are you a Christian: for love or for material benefits? If you serve God because you love him, you will keep on loving him, whether the blessings come or not. If you only serve God for the material things he can give you, you will dump him when they perish. Make your choice today!

ACTION POINT
Jesus loved you to the point of dying on the cross.
Consider to what extent you love him!