And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE.” But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10.25-29

The season of Advent begins this Sunday. Are you ready? It is a special season, but a busy one as well. God has a purpose for you as you go to the Christmas parties and spend time with friends and family. His purpose is not common to the world, but uncommon. Prepare your heart this Advent by living for God’s uncommon purpose of joyfully worshiping Him in all you do. That is how he wants us to respond this season.

The Scripture text today begins to prepare us to that end, as Jesus has an encounter with an expert in the Mosaic law. The spirit of the lawyer is evil. He wants to trap Jesus with his questioning. He has a wrong idea of Jesus and the Kingdom of God and how one receives eternal life (to have a relationship with God), as the focus of his question is on doing. Jesus asks Him, What is written in the Law? How does it read to you? What does it say and what is your interpretation of it? The lawyer’s answer is first from the Shema (Deuteronomy 6.4), You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; The second part of his answer is from Leviticus 19.18, and (love) your neighbor as yourself. Jesus says, You have answered correctly; meaning, as far as the words went, you and your interpretation are right. But it is not just about knowing and interpreting the Law of God.

So Jesus says, Do this and you will live (death and life/heaven and hell on the line), meaning, keep on doing this forever. The problem is he can’t, and we can’t. This lawyer has embarrassed himself and by his questioning convicted himself of something he already knew. He can’t keep the Law. He falls terribly short of it just like you and I. God never wanted a relationship with us based on a bunch of laws and rules. He never said He wanted what we could do. The lawyer answers right, but Jesus didn’t die so that you would have the right answers. In fact, He takes no pleasure in your religion. He is tired (weary) of our lip service. Instead all He has ever wanted is us. He wants our heart, He wants our soul, He wants our strength, and He wants our mind. He wants all of you. He wants you.

Listen to what He says to the Israelites, I have called you by name; you are Mine (Isaiah 43.1). He wants you to be His and He wants to be your God in spite of what you do, have done or are going to do or what you don’t do, didn’t do or won’t do – this is called grace. This is why He has created us and many miss that.

God wants your worship. You were created and designed to worship, meaning love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength, mind, body. Many choose other gods, committing idolatry. Far too often we worship, giving our heart, soul, strength, mind, time, resources, to the gods of this world (sex, money, worldly please and success). We try to fill up the empty spaces inside, but never get satisfied. This is where the good news of the gospel comes in, as the all-satisfying God wants to fill those empty spaces. He wants all of you.

So, this Advent season, may we remember that God sent Jesus because God wants you and I to be His. He wants our response to His desire to be an emphatic YES of faith that we will be His and that we would fully worship Him.

Weekly Memory Verse: You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16.11