I find myself increasingly praying for God’s perfect will to be done. Can you think of any person whose will is perfect? I can’t. Just like us, the people about to enter into the Promised Land were not perfect. They needed guidance….right from wrong, good from bad, just from unjust. Deuteronomy 17 continues teaching about how to offer a sacrifice, how to judge fairly, how to choose a king and how that king should live and rule. When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. v. 18-20. Can you imagine such a King?

That was then. This is now. Animal sacrifices are no longer given. They were never wanted by God. For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6. Return, Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Hosea 14:1-2.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16.

God shows us throughout Scripture how to love Him and how to love others. Have you considered God’s perfect will for you? To love God. To be loved by God. To love others. Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” (Isaiah 40:13) “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” (Job 41:11) For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36.

I love God’s perfect will because it includes everything and everyone. Do you know of anything else that encompasses that fully? Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2.

And what did Jesus pray and teach us to pray but for His Father’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10. Why? Because God’s will is perfect and perfect for each of us and for all of His creation. God speed that day and let Your love seep deep into our hearts that with all of our hearts we may offer praise to You; and that in Your love our minds can be transformed and renewed. Oh how we need Your perfect will, Lord!