Session 43

What does God really want?

From Genesis: A 7-Week Devotional

What does God really want from me? Until we answer that question, it’s like working a jigsaw puzzle in the dark. There is a picture and pieces that go somewhere...but it feels like randomly moving stuff around...trial and error.

Can we even know the answer? Yes.

In Genesis 4, Cain eventually kills his brother Abel. Their problem started when Cain offered “some of the fruits of the soil” to God while Abel offered “fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock” (Genesis 4:3-4). Cain chose some of his. Abel chose the best of his.

God wants the best from us, and He also wants the best for us. 

God wants our best. He wants the best of our time, talent, and resources. We can give Him our best time by reading our Bible and praying when we are our freshest. We can use our gifts to serve Him and give Him the best of our talent. We can give Him our best resources by tithing—giving the first 10 percent of our income to the local church.

God wants the best from us, and He also wants the best for us. Cain sulked over God’s disdain and God said, “... if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it” (Genesis 4:7). God wanted Cain to fix the content of his heart, not just the content of his offering. God wanted Cain to rule over the sin in his life, not be ruled by it. He wanted Cain to be the best Cain he could be.

God wants us to be the best us we can be. He gives us what we need to overcome weakness and sin. When we choose, with God’s power, to give Him our best, He makes us into the best possible version of ourselves.

Reflect:

• Is there an area of your life that you are not giving your best to God? Why?
• What is one step you can take today to give Him your best in that area?
• Write down what God wants from you and for you. Read it every day.