Have you ever wondered what makes us pleasing to God? Some might say, “Praying more,” or “giving more,” perhaps “reading the Bible more.” The key word in all of these thoughts is “more.” We seem to think that God is demanding more, more, more from us.
I do not believe that God is like some demanding dictator shouting out orders for us to do, be, give and sacrifice more. What makes us pleasing to God are not my prayers, nor my spiritual insights, nor my knowledge of Scripture or theology. Perhaps, if I am a tremendous success in the eyes of the world or my peers God will be pleased with that. Not even measuring our success by the world’s ideals makes us pleasing to God. If these things are true, why do we fill our hearts, thoughts and lives with the fear that we are not doing enough for God? I think it is because we do not really know God and what he seeks in the lives of those who follow him.
What does God ask of those who follow him? He wants us to be obedient to his word. He asks us to open the depths of our hearts to him so that we might really be filled with his heart. As we begin to live this way we love as he loves, give as he gives, sacrifice as he sacrifices and die as he died.
People who live this way make a Kingdom difference in the world they live in. The lives of others are changed because they begin to experience the heart of God through the actions, words, attitudes and habits of his children.
Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. NIV
1 comment:
Good reminder.
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