One desire

One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. - Psalm 27v4

It is interesting that I came across this verse the same day that my reading in The Valley of Vision was called 'Desires.'

Here are a couple of highlights:

'Let him produce in me wise desires by which I may ask for tight things, then I will know that thou hearest me.'

'May I seek first thy kingdom and His righteousness.'

'May I value things in relation to eternity.'

Then there is this one especially in the light of today's verse:

'May I regard the world as dreams, lies, vanities and vexation of spirit, and desire to depart from it.'

It would be interesting to do a poll, even among Christians, to ask the question 'What is your desire?' I am sure that the answers would vary widely. Some might say wealth or possessions or any number of things. There is nothing essentially wrong with these things, but if that is our primary desire, there is something wrong.

Some might say something like love or peace or happiness. All of these are good things and worthy desires. It would be hard to be critical of these, but they still miss the point slightly.

What should our desire be? I think the psalmist nails it – 'to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.'

If our desire was truly to 'dwell in His house' forever, both now and for eternity we would live our lives today as though we were living in His house. When we live in His house we 'play by his rules.' That changes all of our desires. We live now not in the light of now, but of eternity instead. We see things, not in the light of the temporary and earthly, but in the light of eternity.

That changes our lives. Our desire become to seek His way and His righteousness. It means I trust God to take care of me since I am living in His house. I sleep securely because He takes care of me. I don't have to fret because I am His child living in His house.

If my life is the litmus test, do I have the right desire?