What are your greatest desires? One of Paul’s greatest desires was to be with the Lord; he considered being with Christ would be far better than anything earthly life offered (Philippians 1:23). Paul longed for and loved Christ’s appearing (2 Timothy 4:8). Paul also had a great desire for others to be saved in that day. He wrote in Romans 10:1, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” Paul wanted his fellow Christians to know that he greatly desired the salvation of his kinsfolk, the Jewish people. The fact that many of the Jews had refused to open their hearts to the Gospel of Jesus Christ caused Paul “great heaviness and continual sorrow” in his heart (Romans 9:2).

Our strongest desire should be to please God and go to heaven. It ought to be the aim of our entire life. Colossians 3:1-4 says:

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” God’s commandments are righteousness (Psalm 119:172). Those who want to please God should desire His word more than food. When tempted to turn the surrounding stones into bread, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 and said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). It is expected that Christians desire the word of God as a baby desires milk (1 Peter 2:2). Partaking of God’s word will cause us to grow. God, and the word of His grace, is able to build us up and give us an inheritance among all who are sanctified (Acts 20:32).

This week, brother Jerry Carmichael will be preaching God’s word. We have been looking forward to this week for some time. Among other topics, brother Carmichael will address “My Heart’s Desire” and “The Perfect Law of the Lord” from Psalm 19:7-11. Without a doubt the law of the Lord can convert the soul, make wise the simple, cause rejoicing in the heart, and enlighten the eyes. Do you desire to hear it? Saving faith comes from hearing it (Romans 10:17).

Cornelius gathered his close friends and family to hear the word of God (Acts 10:24). He said to Peter, “Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God” (Acts 10:33). Do you look forward to heaven? Do you desire to hear the word of God that provides all the necessary instructions on how to please God in order to be with Him in heaven (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:3)? Will you gather together with us this week before God in order to hear all things that Jerry Carmichael will preach to us from the Scriptures?

-Mark Day