What God Really Wants Is Our Best Behavior

Never lose sight of these two important facts: God loves you and can be fully trusted. He is too wise to make a mistake and too loving to be unkind.

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you: He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him." Isaiah 30:18

I've always dressed up for Easter. It's what I was taught. My first Easter memory was when I was four years old. My Grandma had bought me an Easter suit complete with a clip-on tie. The suit was light grey and it even came with a vest. I wore my cowboy boots with it.

Goodness, did I ever feel like a million dollars when I got out of the car in my suit, cowboy boots and brand spanking new Bible. So did everyone else. All the little boys had on suits and all the girls had on brightly colored dresses.

It looked like we were a part of a kingly court formal dance.

I'm not one for dressing up. My favorite clothes are my Levi's and a t-shirt. (Which I usually wear to preach in). But Easter is in the air and I'm checking out new suits.

There's just something about that day. Something that tells me to look my best and to be at my best. I know it doesn't matter to God. That Jesus loves us just as we are. That it's not our outward appearance that matters but the inward shape of our heart.

I think Easter is a reminder to me that God deserves our best. People in the Old Testament always brought their best to God. The priests dressed in the best robes of the time with the most exquisite jewelry ordaining their roles. The people brought the best of their herds to sacrifice. Their fattest calves and finest wines. The Temple was the finest and most ornate building in town. When they attended their synagogue they dressed in their finest clothes and used expensive perfumes.

In the Old Testament, we gave God our best stuff. But God doesn't need stuff. After all, God's got a whole universe to walk around in. What God really wants is our best behavior.

"Turn the other cheek."

"Love one another."

"Love your neighbor as yourself."

"Love the Lord God with all your heart and all your mind and all your soul."

What you wear doesn't matter much anymore. Where you go to worship isn't as important. And what you put into the offering plate is your choice.

But still. It's Easter. I want to look my best in honor of our God who gave us the best He had to offer. His son Jesus.

(I'm thinking about maybe something with a bow tie this year. Bow ties are cool.)

Let us pray.

O God, you are the source of all the blessings in our life. We seek to make our hearts aware of your presence and love so that we can sing your song. We praise you for your never ending forgiveness. And we give thanks to you for giving us your best in your son Jesus Christ. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

PASTOR TROY CONRAD IS MINISTER OF THE FARMINGTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.