Christian Living

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Wouldn't that be great: be a pleasing person by 'not' trying? Yet, it is virtually impossible to be pleasing to all people, just a few people, or maybe even just one person. See, people have an odd 'acceptance' measuring stick and it is almost never used on themselves, almost never balanced with reality, and literally almost never in the right context of life... so, you're doomed to fail. If you 'not try' to be pleasing, how would they really treat you, then? No... not try to be 'non-pleasing', just not putting any effort into being a pleasing person.

See, all too often, we are sure God looks on us the same way as do other people, and we just flow right into trying to please God too; do things that are acceptable to Him (we don't feel guilt), or things to impress (spiritually showing off), or even thinking that if/when we go through the 'religious' motions (church attendance, giving, sacrificing) that He'll be so enamored with us, He'll just have a Holy Fit of Happiness!

Hardly, though... Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:8-9 that; "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.", which reminds us that His saving grace already makes accepted, already makes us pleasing to Him, and already warms His heart. We tie disappointment too closely with being pleasing to Him.

How?
The key means to help you 'not' try to be pleasing is through trust in Him. It is a recurring theme and can be found in Psalms 62:8, which reads; "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us." Now, trust is quite the opposite of 'do'. One is an action of faith and our spirits, the other an action of works and our bodies.

Why?
That elusive fuller and deeper life in the Lord. In fact, Paul also told the Ephesians the whole purpose in Ephesians 3:16-20 that;
a) God can/will grant you His full riches and glory
b) Christ dwells in your heart (grounded in love)
c) You can comprehend His vastness
d) You can 'know' the love of Christ

It's not a "give up and He will accept you" proposition... merely a "don't try to please, to be pleasing" in Him!


G.W. Bill Elliott, Jr. MDiv
VocalBillity Devotionals - http://vocalbillity.blogspot.com

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