August 13, 2010

GUIDELINES

FOR GOD-PLEASERS

Scripture Reading--1 Thessalonians 4:1

"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, 

and exhort you by the Lord Jesus,

that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk

and to please God, so ye would abound more and more."

Those who live to please God must make tough choices.  When they decide to say "yes" to pleasing God, they must also decide to say "no" to certain things.  Note the following choices we must make to please God:

1.  God-pleasers are not self-pleasers.  Romans 8:8 says, "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please god."  The flesh, as the Bible calls it, is self-centered and desires only what will satisfy itself.  Yet those things that please the flesh are often displeasing to God.

2.  God-pleasers are not men-pleasers.  In 1 Thessalonians 2:4, we read, But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts."  In Galatians 1:10, Paul said, For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."  Attempting to please others, we can easily offend or bring shame to our God.

3.  God-pleasers are not world-pleasers.  While instructing Timothy, Paul wrote, "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he might please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier"  ( 2 Tim. 2:4 ).  The world system leaves God out of everything, but this philosophy doesn't work for those who seek to please God.

Changes begin with choices.  Not all choices are easy to make, but they are necessary.  A God-pleaser will make the right choices so nothing can rob him of the pleasure of his God.

APPLICATION:  Proverbs 29:25 and John 12:43.  Note ways people can influence the choices we make.

--Tom Palmer--