PLEASING GOD

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: The Federal Republic of Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa with 186 million people, 41% of which are under 15 years of age, with a life expectancy of under 48 years. The country is evenly divided at 49% Christian and 49% Muslim, with most Muslims living in the North of the country where Christians are often persecuted and killed. Corruption is a massive evil at every level of society and undermines economic stability. Pray for the church in Nigeria.

Our graduating class at Bible College chose 2 Corinthians 5.9 "...we make it our aim to please him" as our class verse. Since that day I have made this my life verse. In chapter 5 Paul is writing about how our earthly body will be clothed one day with our heavenly body. For now we walk by faith but one day we will be with the Lord Jesus. So Paul writes, "so whether we are at home (in heaven with Jesus) or away (still here on earth), we make it our aim to please him." Ephesians 5.10 exhorts us to "try and discern what is pleasing to the Lord." When Paul prays for the Colossian church (1.9-10) he writes, "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him..." And then in 1 Thessalonians 4.1 Paul writes, "that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more." From these verses we understand that it was Paul's passion to please Jesus and God and that he prayed and taught others to make this their aim as well. From the above verses it is also evident that knowing and doing the will of God with willingness and joy is what pleases the Lord.

 I find the fact that I can please Jesus encouraging. The reality is that I am nothing and have nothing with which to please God with in myself but I can please the Lord with what He has done in me and with what He has given me. I have all I need to be able to joyfully and passionately please Jesus and my Father. Many of you will relate to the young child who asks for money to buy their mother or father a present and having made the purchase with joy and pride gives the precious gift. The parent receives the gift with great pleasure even though they have actually paid for it. It is not the value of the gift but the joy of the parent in seeing the willingness and desire of the child to give the gift, and the joy that the child has in giving the gift that pleases the parent. It is not the burden of a rule kept but the desire and joy of a willing heart that pleases most of all. And so, though I have nothing to give to God in myself, I can willingly give of what God has given to me and please Him and be fulfilled and pleased myself in the giving.

Good articles this week:
Pray for Andrew Brunson in jail in Turkey
Leviticus supports homosexuality - modern text is wrong