If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people

Exodus 33:13

I have seen people engage all possible means to endear themselves to people in high authority for various reasons. This truth is illustrated humorously in a scene in “Pride and Prejudice,” by Jane Austen. At a Ball in honor of Mr. Bingley, Mr. Collins, a young clergyman, tries very hard to get the attention of Mr. Darcy, the rich friend of Mr. Bingley. All that humiliating experience was just to show off to Jane, the oldest of the five Bennet girls he was pursuing for marriage. What people would do for love!

That’s the world’s motive of endearment. It’s all about our selfish personal interests and self-promotion adventure. The world wraps deception in love and presents it with craftily concealed schemes. Such endeavors have broken hearts and destroyed lives. But how about the way of the Lord?

Why do we seek fellowship with one another? Why do we seek close and intimate fellowship with God through Christ Jesus? Why do we come to God in prayer? Do we come just to escape from hell, seek cover from evil forces, seek wealth, healing, children, or what have you? Nothing wrong with these things, and in fact, we can find all these and much more in the Lord. But if His blessings become our primary motive for coming to Jesus, we have it all wrong.

For our example, come with me to a scene in the Sinai wilderness where Moses pitched a tent outside the camp in which he met with God. God spoke “to Moses face to face as one speak to a friend” (Ex. 33:11). What an opportunity for Moses to ask for anything to satisfy his personal interest? But I am so glad that the Holy Spirit has opened one of those personal interactions to us in Exodus 33:12-23

Despite all that God had done for Moses (12), Moses was not satisfied with the status quo. He wanted more of God. It was not about him or anything for his selfish personal gain.

“If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you” (13).

Moses’ greatest desire was to know God more intimately. He wanted to know God’s will and full counsel in order to live to please Him. Moses asked to see God in His full glory (18); for no one sees God in His glory and remains the same. That’s the desire God wants from us when we come before Him – our whole life for His glory.

Young King Solomon expressed that desire when God gave him a blank check to fill at his pleasure. Because Solomon put God’s glory before his personal interest, God gave him much more than he asked for – “both wealth and honor” (1 Kings 3:10-13). With the same mindset, Paul said in Philippians 3:10: ^“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

Is that your greatest desire in life – to know God and to please Him? When you have been ushered into God’s presence in praise and worship, what do you ask Him for? Why do you seek close intimacy with Him?