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Doing What Pleases God
To do what is pleasing to God is an interesting biblical concept. (1 John 3:22) That of course means that we don’t do what we want to do or what we feel comfortable doing but instead we surrender our desires to God’s will and let Him lead and control us. That’s what Christ’s mother, Mary, told the servers at the wedding where Jesus turned the water into wine, “Whatever He says to you do it.” (John 2:5) Then Jesus told the servants to do some weird and risky things (and those brave guys were willing to leave their comfort zone and do what Jesus said).
I believe that over the early centuries of Christianity, Christians made Sunday worship comfortable and set it up so that it pleases people instead of letting the Holy Spirit take the direct lead and personally direct it in the “spirit and truth” ways (John 4:21-24) that please God the Father. It’s much easier and more comfortable to worship God with programmed words that someone else says for us (or has us repeat) than it is to allow our heart to be near to and controlled by the living God, Himself. (Matthew 15:8)
Ever since I encountered and surrendered my life to the living Jesus, I’ve been hungering and thirsting (Matthew 5:6) and searching for a spiritual city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10) — for people who will courageously gather in Jesus’ name (Matthew 18:20) and in His presence to set aside their desires (Luke 9:23) and their programming and let Jesus, Himself, take the wheel. (Romans 8:14) I’ve found that kind of gathering a few times, but it never seems to last. Human programming and control strive to enter in and to set aside the Holy Spirit’s direct control. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
I love unprogrammed Christian gatherings that are directly led and controlled by God the Holy Spirit, but they are so rare that few people have actually experienced one. I’ve spent my life seeking for them because in a Spirit-controlled environment I encounter the real presence and supernatural power of the resurrected Jesus Christ living and working in and through ordinary people. If you know of a Christ-controlled meeting like that, please tell me about it.
“If Jesus tells us to forgive a person seventy times seven, how much more do you think he will forgive us?” Lots of time, it’s not that we do not believe Jesus will forgive, it’s because we do not believe that we actually need so much forgiviness. If we will never get out of this cycle, most of time, we will just give up. This is just typical human mind. This is why Jesus call us to die to ourself and embracing him and his kingdom fully, this is the only way that we can get out of the trap of self-indulgence. Sometime, when I am so discouraged and depressed, just ask myself a simple question “How much the evil one will be delighted when I lost faith in Jesus?” Usually, this question can immediately send me back into the arm of Jesus. “Though the fig tree should not blossom, now fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation”
Religion is condemning. Especially through the words and actions of zealous adherents. Also racism is very similar. Us vs them… because either we’re more special or they are less tolerable.
What about recognizing the humanity of all?
Sorry to disagree but today’s verse is indeed an if then statement as are the verses you quoted from John. That is the nature of faith – we act according to God’s promises, and they become in us.
And What please the father? Faith ( Heb 11:6)
Thank you so much for this wake up call today. I thoroughly identify with all you spoke about JD. Bless you!
Depending on your tradition, you react to remaining sin as 1)—a sign of weakness and need for Christ daily or 2)—as ruin or condemn. Alert readers will join our dear brother JDW and see it as a fresh opportunity to cling to Christ, to affirm our salvation as an undeserved gift of true mercy.
Many years ago at Toccoa Falls in Georgia, Dr Ray Ludwigson taught me about how the “mind of Christ” is formed in us. The mind that hates sin. We grow, over time, to hate that sin that we keep confessing over and over again, until it loses its power over us. Over the years I found this process to be true. This morning you reminded me of this power that we have in Jesus. Sin may not wave the white flag, but neither do I. I am as doggedly determined to win because that blood will never lose its power. Thanks be to God!!!