This week, Michael writes how the world reminds us that we are living in difficult times. The past few years have confirmed that the devil is alive and well on planet earth. There is trial and tribulation all around us. The devil tricks us into responding to the pandemic and pestilence with panic and pandemonium. In this world there is a lot to be mournful about. However, Jesus said, blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.From Jesus’ perspective of the beatitudes, his blessed attitudes, the mourning is over the things of this world that have separated our hearts from God’s heart. Then, with a heart of meekness and humility, we can turn our eyes from this world and instead focus on the things of the spirit of God.
The God-rejecting world teaches us that we have plenty of enemies in this world. The devil will convince us to separates ourselves into warring parties ... His purpose is to steal, to kill and to destroy. His purpose is to divide and conquer. He does this by dividing warring factions into enemy camps. However, Jesus came to reconcile … to bring together that which has been separated. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus. Through Jesus Christ, He is the one who brings us together, our hearts aligned according to the word and will of God. He has called us in the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Therefore, above all things put on charity, the love of God which is the bond, the tie that binds our hearts together in the bond of perfectness.
According to Ephesians 5:8-10 in the NIV, For you were once darkness, but now are the light in the Lord. Live as children of light for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth and find out what pleases (is acceptable unto) the Lord. What is pleasing unto the Lord? The word for “Pleasing” is the Greek word “euarestos” translated as “well-pleasing” or “acceptable” in the King James Version. What is it that is acceptable unto God? In the Old Testament Levitical law, the priests offered sacrifices unto God for His acceptance. We think that to sacrifice means to give up something. However, this is not God’s definition of an acceptable sacrifice. What are the sacrifices, living sacrifices that are acceptable or well-pleasing to God? According to Hebrews 13:15-16, through Him, then, we may offer up a sacrifice of praise always to God, that is, the fruit of lips, giving thanks to His name; and of doing good, and of fellowship, be not forgetful, for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased.
We are to offer sacrifices that are pleasing to God. These are the sacrifices of praise, worship in awe, reverence and respect from a heart of love. This is the essence of Romans 12:1, 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.
Our challenge is to do that which is “well pleasing” (acceptable) unto the Lord. We often pray for God to bless us. Our prayer in English is a quote from the Beatles’ song: Please, please, please me. We think that prayer is for God to please me. We think that prayer is a plead for God to bring about our own good pleasure. However, James says, you pray and you do not receive because when you pray you ask for things that you may consume it on your own lust. Lust is anything that we love more than our love of God. Lust is an over-desire; anything that we desire over our desire for God. We live to please those we love. Who is it that you love most? The first and great commandment says, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind ... with your very essence in everything that is in you.
LEt's continue Michael's message on pleasing God in the next post. In Christ, Brian
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