What Does God Want?
In Matt 7:15 says that only those who do what God wants will be accepted into his kingdom. Then he lists several activities that would surely qualify one for Heaven-- casting out demons, witnessing, and miracles-- and says "away from me evildoers!" While Jesus also promises us that we will do greater works than He (John 14:12), what could we be missing if we did do what Jesus commands -- cast out demons, preach the Gospel, and heal the sick?
I believe that there are important things that we tend to leave out. One of my all-time favorite verses in the Bible is Micah 6:8 - "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." So very simple. Jesus referred the religious leaders of His day to Hosea 6:6: "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." In Genesis 18:19 God says that Abraham will command his children "to do justice and judgment." Samuel tells Saul that "to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Sam 15:22)." Solomon affirms in Proverbs 21:3 that "to do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice."
I could go on, but will stop by saying that the essentials of the Gospel -- love, mercy, justice, obedience to the everyday precepts of Bible, such as practicing the 10 Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, must be done to have our extraordinary services honored.
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