Tag: please God
“Who has Believed?”
Scripture reading for July 13: Isaiah 53:1-3 “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look on Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as One from Whom men hide their faces.”
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”
One of the most famous passages in Isaiah describing God’s plan of salvation and healing is found in chapter 53. We will explore this passage this week in relation to God’s revelation of His heart to bring restoration to His people through faith in the One that He would send. Matthew 8:16-17 applies this passage in Isaiah to Jesus’ ministry of healing and deliverance.
Today’s passage begins with two questions for God’s people. The first question asks about our faith: “Who has believed what he has heard from us?” Faith is foundational to pleasing God, for without it, it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6) Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) Isaiah asked God’s people if they trusted and believed what God said to them through his ministry.
The second question concerns revelation knowledge. This is knowledge gained from God’s Word that is beyond what our senses may be able to discern. “To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” asked the Israelites to discern beyond their human understanding. God revealed that His Messiah/Servant would come out of ‘dry ground’, not appearing to be anyone special and in a time of spiritual dryness. This ‘Servant’ would have no human characteristics that would mark Him as Messiah. In fact, He would be despised and rejected by men. He would be a man of sorrows and experience much grief. Some would want to hide their faces from Him. To discern God’s Messiah would require revelation knowledge beyond human reasoning.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for speaking to us, Your people. Thank You for revealing Your Son, Jesus Christ, that we might find our help in the Arm of the Lord that You provided to save us from our sins, sickness and disease. Open the eyes of our hearts to behold You. Amen.
Faith Pleases God
Scripture reading for October 28: Hebrews 11
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, through he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:1-6
In this chapter of Hebrews, we have the record of some of those in Scripture who by faith pleased God. An initial step of faith is to believe that God exists, although He is Spirit and cannot be seen with the human eye. Further progress in pleasing God comes when we choose to believe that God created the universe. Scripture offers the story of creation in the early chapters of Genesis and plainly states that God through the Holy Spirit brought creation into being through His Word out of nothing. It also states that man was created by God in His own image and likeness.
In this passage two people are mentioned as having faith that pleased God. Abel, the son of Adam, pleased God when he brought a blood sacrifice in contrast to Cain, his brother, who brought produce from the ground. God commended Abel and rebuked Cain. Although Abel was murdered by Cain, through his act of faith he is still speaking to us today! His reward was to be commended by God and written in God’s book. Enoch was the seventh generation from Adam and he chose to walk with God. He walked so closely, that he was taken right up to heaven as a reward. God is pleased with faith and rewards those who seek Him by faith through His sacrifice, His Son Jesus Christ. All who believe and walk with Him await the reward–eternal life in Father’s house!
If you stood before God today, are you assured by this passage that you would please God? Have you come before God with the final blood sacrifice that He has already accepted? Does Enoch’s reward give you confidence to walk by faith each day?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for all those recorded in Scripture who have walked by faith and pleased You. Thank You for Your Son, Who ultimately walked by faith in every Word You spoke, offering His own blood as the final sacrifice for sin. I await my reward! Amen.
God pleasers, not man pleasers!
Scripture reading for September 15: 1 Thessalonians 2
“But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the Gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God Who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext of greed–God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.” 1 Thessalonians 2:2-7
Paul, the Apostle of Jesus Christ, gives the Thessalonians insight into his own world view and motivation of his heart. As an apostle, he could have made demands for support from those who believed in that region. He had suffered greatly at his last missions stop in Philippi and was still recovering. But none of the trouble hindered Paul from fulfilling his sacred calling to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was focused on preaching Christ, pleasing His Father, and living in joy of the Holy Spirit no matter what man might think or do to him. He knew that God saw his heart and the hearts of all men and desired all to be saved and come to Jesus Christ.
Paul never used flattery or seductive speech to win over the lost. He was not motivated by a love of money or fame from the acclaim of man. Paul boldly fulfilled his calling from Jesus to preach the Gospel, even in the midst of conflict and persecution. He described his own heart and those of his missions team as like a nursing mother caring tenderly for her very young children. This heart was a reflection of the heart of Jesus Christ, gentle and lowly, offering peace and rest. (Matthew 11:28-30) He considered others of more value than himself, that he might win some!
How do you think you might respond after mistreatment for preaching the Gospel? Do you let the opinions of others or their criticism of your faith stop you from sharing Jesus Christ? In what ways do you demonstrate a desire to please God in your daily witness and life?
Prayer: Father God, forgive me for sometimes allowing a fear of man to hinder my witness for you. Fill me with Your heart of gentleness and humility towards sinners and those needing grace because of ignorance and lack of maturity. Let the pastor’s heart of Jesus Christ transform my witness! Amen.
Pathway to greatness!
Scripture reading for January 13th: Genesis 24-25, Psalm 4, Mark 9
Mark 9:33-37 “And they came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And He sat down and called the twelve. And He said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And He took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in His arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in My Name receives Me, and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him Who sent Me.””
Jesus knew everything about everyone. In this account, Jesus confronted the disciples about their argument with one another concerning who was the greatest and deserved places of honor. Jesus asked them what they had been discussing, but His question brough silence. When Jesus asks us questions, it doesn’t mean He needs our answer as much as it means we need to think about our answer. He called the disciples together and had them sit at His feet. He then took a child and put the youngster in His own arms as an example of serving the least. This was the only pathway to greatness and the abundant life now and into eternity! God honors humble servants!
Genesis 24:26-27 “The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord and said, “Blessed be the Lord the God of my master Abraham, Who has not forsaken His steadfast love and His faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.”
Faith confession: Lord God, I bow in worship before You for Your faithfulness and steadfast love to us through Your Son Jesus Christ, providing the abundant life for all who believe. His example of serving the least–lost sinners, children, hurting people–touches my heart and makes me want to follow His great example. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and lead me on the path to abundant life through serving You and others. My reward will be Your smiling Face.
Psalm 4:5-6 “Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord. There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of Your Face upon us, O Lord.”
Blessed Assurance!
Scripture reading for October 28th: Hebrews 11, Psalm 65, Proverbs 30
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 11:1-3, 6 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. . . . .And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”
The writer of Hebrews reviewed past history of God’s people recorded in Scripture. Those who pleased God were those who by faith obeyed Him and lived a life of worship and trust, even when they did not receive what was promised. God always rewards those who seek Him and commends those with trusting faith. If we see it now, we don’t need faith. If we hear God speak, we can wait patiently for it to come to pass!
Faith Confession: I believe in God the Father and Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Maker of heaven and earth. I believe the universe was created by God’s powerful Word out of nothing. I am a new creation by believing His Word in Jesus Christ and await a full reward of eternal life.
Psalm 65:4-5 “Blessed is the one You choose and bring near, to dwell in Your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple! By awesome deeds You answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; . .”
Paths of Righteousness!
Scripture reading for August 29th: Ephesians 5, Psalm 23, Proverbs 19
Key Scriptures: Ephesians 5:8-11 ” . . for at one time you were darkness, but now your are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
All believers were once sinners, walking in darkness and doing deeds of those who live in darkness and ignorance of God’s will. But now believers have been made “children of light” and are called to walk in the light of God’s Word and life. We are to study God’s Word to find out what pleases Him and do that. We are to expose the darkness by letting our light shine brighter each day as we follow our Good Shepherd in His paths of righteousness.
Faith Confession: I am light in the world because Christ lives in me. As I walk in the light of Christ’s love and Word, I please God and expose the fruitless deeds of darkness that I once lived in.
Psalm 23:1-3 “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.”
Please God Alone!
Scripture reading for January 31st: Matthew 23, Psalm 23, Proverbs 23
Key Scriptures: Matthew 23:1-5 “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples, “The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but do not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others.””
Jesus never taught rebellion against God’s established authority, but humble submission. He called out leaders who were not submissive to God’s authority and Word. Here He called out those who preached but did not practice what God’s Word instructed. These leaders were play actors, putting on a performance for others to see while forgetting that God knew their hearts! Those who are called to leadership and those under leadership must listen to God and apply His Word.
Faith Confession: Lord, I believe Your Word and ask for Your help to apply it to my life, attitudes and actions. May I perform for an audience of One because I love You with all my heart.
Proverbs 23:22-23 “Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.”