Good morning dear ones!
I want to encourage you with this: God will always love you, however, He is not always PLEASED with our behavior. It’s important to PLEASE GOD because our actions will determine how we will spend eternity. As born-again Christians, we will get into heaven. However, the way in which we live here on earth will determine how we will live in heaven. God has outlined in His Word what we need to do in order to PLEASE HIM. By obeying His Word in all we do, we begin to discover how we can PLEASE HIM now and for eternity.
Ephesians 1:5, 6 (NLT) declares,
- God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son.
Family, I want to reiterate that God will never stop loving us. The Scripture declares in John 17:23 that He loves us as much as He loves Jesus. However, our actions (or behavior) can dis-please Him.
By His grace, through faith, we have everything we need to live A LIFE THAT PLEASES HIM. PLEASING GOD should be our primary goal in life. 2 Corinthians 5:9 (AMP) declares,
- Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be PEASING TO HIM.
When we get to heaven, family, our actions will be judged. It matters how we live here on earth (see 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, AMP). The foundation in which we build our lives upon will someday be tested in heaven. For example, each of us will have to answer the question, “Have I fashioned my life after this world’s standards, or after God’s standards?”
It is God’s will that we receive full rewards in heaven for living a life that PLEASES HIM (see 2 John 1:8). Unfortunately, many Christians choose a life that dis-pleases Him. Once His judgment concerning our rewards and losses in heaven is set, it is final. His judgment won’t ever be changed (see Hebrews 6:1-2).
Dear brothers and sisters, God has a preplanned assignment for each of us. We each must discover His assignment for our lives (see Ephesians 2:10, AMP).
We are born for a specific purpose, and God has already chosen it for us. We don’t get to choose our purpose. All we have to do is submit to His will for our lives ~ it’ll be the most wonderful, glorious life we could ever imagine!
When we fulfill His will for us, GOD IS PLEASED. Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP) says,
- “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
So, how do we discover and fulfill our God-given assignment? We must pursue our specific assignment with effort, through prayer and confessing the Word. God will give us clues about His will for our lives. For example, He places within us a God-given passion. Also, He gives each of us a certain grace or anointing (or talent). When we use our grace for His kingdom and purposes, we begin to discover His specific will for us.
Jesus should be the only One we imitate. We shouldn’t use our grace to emulate famous people in the world. We must allow God to be our guide in discovering and fulfilling His will for our lives. I encourage you to thank God everyday for giving you the knowledge of His will.
We can turn our thanksgiving into a confession, such as this one: “Father I thank you that I have the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (see Colossians 1:9-10, AMP).
We won’t be able to discover our specific course in life without applying the Word of God because His Word is His will.
LIVING TO PLEASE GOD,
Lisa Gordon
Assistant Pastor
Jesus City Church