What does God want?

[Dune]

What's the main thing that God wants from a human being, why does He want it, and how has He gone about trying to get it?

I've been thinking of these things lately and would like to know what kind of thoughts you all have about them. Maybe a scripture or two with your thoughts. Thanks.

[Hootmon]

IMO...

God wants fellowship with mankind; for us to be part of His family.

He wants our affection to be freely given because it is what WE want, and not because there is no other choice.

[RJs here]

while this may not be the MAIN thing....


yet, this Scripture holds special significance for me:


Romans 12


Christ Brings New Life ~

1 Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God.

2 Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.

~ CEV



He wants fellowship ~ but OBEDIENCE is certainly high on the list as well!!

Overall, I would say He WANTS a RELATIONSHIP with us ~ He wants to be OUR GOD, OUR SHEPHERD, OUR COMFORTER, and also our FRIEND!!
:thumb

:wave

[KrispyKritter]

First and foremost... God wants our $$money$$... and if you mail your check to me I'll be sure to pass it along to him. Dont fill in the amount, I'll take care of that little detail for ya. In return, I'll send you a prayer clothe cut from my hole-y ... oops, I mean Holy socks.

Oh... I'm sorry... I was practicing my audition for TBN!! How did I do?

Anyway... I agree. God made us for one thing: fellowship. It's like my relationship w/my kids. What do I want from them? Well... of course I desire their respect and good behavior... but more than anything else, I desire their love. I want them to want to spend time with me. And I believe that our Father God has the same Fatherly desires that I do.

Can you believe we rebel against that?

[Wileyzmuse]

God wants us to: #1 Love Him
#2 Love each other

[Shyguy]

Agreed Fellowship from that everything else will flow.

Love
Hope
Desire
Stewardship
Friendship

You get the idea. :):

[Vickimac]

Originally posted by Wileyzmuse
God wants us to: #1 Love Him
#2 Love each other

Jesus said it best. :thumb

[Workfromhomemom]

2 Cor 4:15 For all things [are] for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.


1 Cor 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.



Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;
Phil 2:11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

It's all about giving worship and glory to the Lord. I highly recommend A. W. Tozer's book, [i]Whatever Happened to Worship...

:):


PS. it's not about us, it's about him.. :D:

[packer]

First and foremost... God wants our $$money$$... and if you mail your check to me I'll be sure to pass it along to him. Dont fill in the amount, I'll take care of that little detail for ya. In return, I'll send you a prayer clothe cut from my hole-y ... oops, I mean Holy socks. :pound

you are a shoe in for the job:laugh

[carmen]

Originally posted by Dune
What's the main thing that God wants from a human being, why does He want it, and how has He gone about trying to get it?

I've been thinking of these things lately and would like to know what kind of thoughts you all have about them. Maybe a scripture or two with your thoughts. Thanks. Well, judging from the other comments, I may be taking this question wrong, but I'm going throw my response out anyway :D:

I think the primary thing that God wants from us is to be made like His Son. He wants us to be like Christ. Once we come to Him for salvation (although I suppose it could be argued that it begins even before then--but that's another issue :lol) the molding and shaping of our character begins. The rest of our lives are spent in working for Him as He makes us more and more like Christ. Sometimes we cooperate, sometimes we do not; but God will have His way. The events and circumstances, the trials and difficulties we go through, whether in His will or not, are used to shape us into a Christ-like character and mold. Everything is used to our good--which is that we are made like Him :):

[keynote]

Dune, This thread appeared at a time in my experience when I am asking that question. It's rare, I usually am very at peace with my salvation and walk, although it took me a long time to get there.
But among my Christian friends at this time is an interest in the "Purpose Driven" theology, which I am sorry but it shakes my relationship with Jesus Christ a bit. After being calm about this thing for so long, now I am seeing what it must be like for people who live that way, always wondering whether they are pleasing Him or not. In fact in my own notes just a few days ago I had an upset spell and wrote the following:

__________________
"1Jo 3:9 every one who has been begotten of God, does not sin, because His (God's) seed remains in him, and he is not able to sin, because he has been begotten of God.

Show me one of these people who is "not able to sin". Show me one single person since the time of Jesus Christ, and since the time of the church, who "sins not".

You can't! You can't show me one. The only way I have ever found to deal with this subject is
1. Compare verses like this with grace verses, as many as I can find, in Paul's letters --
2. Take it that the one being spoken of who does not sin is the spirit-man part of us, the fully saved part of the three part man: body soul and spirit.

"You shall find rest for your soul." When Jesus said that -- He knew what he was going to do, die for our sins and rise again. Without the FULL gospel (grace and salvation by faith only) I would have no rest for my soul. "
--------------------------
I am feeling better about it now, but would love to hear how others may have dealt with that.

[Dune]

These are all great responses everyone.

Fellowship, obedience, love, worship, conforming to the image of His Son.

Excuse me, Pat, I didn't mean to shake anybody up. I don't even know what "purpose driven theology" is. I've never heard of it before. The reason for this thread is that I am trying to get a better handle on my walk with the LORD. Being the simple guy that I am I thought that if what God wanted of me could be boiled down to just one thing it would be easier for me to focus on and accomplish. The same goes for the reason why He wants what He does. I know that the mind of God is beyond us but I think that He has revealed at least enough for us to understand these things.

I'm sure that the LORD wants everything from us that has been mentioned and more. By my reasoning the only way He gets it is if we are totally sold out to Him. And the only thing that would motivate us to do that would be a very deep love for Him. And the only way to love Him more is to know Him better. And the only way to know Him better is to read His Word. Maybe I'm just trying to separate all the means from the end result.

I haven't even gotten to a reason why. It couldn't be for His own benefit, could it? Does God really need anyone to give Him anything? I know that the scripture says that "love seeketh not it's own." Since God is love then maybe what He wants from a person is for their benefit and not His.

What do you think?

[keynote]

Thanks Dune for your kind reply. I know I sounded a little wild eyed. Was sorry I sent it actually. It wasn't anything you said, as I had been steaming about this a while, that's what drew me to your thread title.

You sound absolutely right on, to me. Then you wrote, why does God want all this from us, or words to that effect. My opinion and hope is that He most of all wants relationship with us, and if we are honest isn't that what we want too? We are made in His image. And the rest will follow, just as you said. I really believe that. What a plan! Only God.

[bopeep1909]

God wants you and me:nod <><

[chris_h]

He wants us to repent of our sins, and turn to Him in faith, so that we may be forgiven and spend eternal life with him.

[psykon99]

What God wants:

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

I sum that up in my personal mission statement:

My mission is to be an authentic and radically obedient friend and follower of my Master, Jesus Christ.

[LanceVB]

First and formost He wants none to perish:

2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

As Christians:

He wants us to confess sin as in a court room case when we have committed personal sin, accordingly this happens periodically through out our Christian lives as in seconds, hours, days, etc.: Notice all we have to do is confess, He then forgives, assigning that sin into oblivian, (God the Father does not remember it).
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

He wants us to be filled with the Spirit:
Eph. 5:18b be filled with the Spirit.

John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

He wants us to grow in grace:
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

He wants us to forgive as Christ did:
Eph. 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.


Live by the Holy Spirit:
Gal. 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

When we suffer:
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,


For all:
Col. 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.


For Husbands:
Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

For wives:
Col. 3:18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

work or business:
Col. 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

for Children:
Col. 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Lance:):

[Dune]

Thanks again, everyone!

So far I've gotten it down to this:

God has given us His Word and the resurrection power of His Spirit so that we can do all that He instructs of us because it is for our own good.

Amen!

[LanceVB]

I also wanted to point out that the main focus for God is doxological in the overall picture, or to basicaly, glorify Himself.

When a person believes in Christ, we usually are enthused about it, very much so. An unbeliever doesn't care a bit. The angels, both fallen and elect, know exactly the consequences when a person becomes part of the body of Christ. The elect angels cheer! The fallen angels do not like it one bit. One of the main focus in salvation is that God is glorified.

Now when we apply the Word of God, in short, God is glorified.

Lance