PLEASING GOD, PLEASING OTHERS

PLEASING GOD, PLEASING OTHERS

"For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." Galatians 1:10

I have struggled throughout my life with being a people-pleaser. Dr. Ed Welch wrote a powerful book with the title: WHEN PEOPLE ARE BIG, GOD IS SMALL. Today's reading by Dr. Henry Blackaby, in his daily devotional EXPERIENCING GOD DAY BY DAY spoke to my heart today.

"At times you will have to make a choice between pleasing GOD and pleasing those around you, for God's ways are not man's ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). As important as it is to strive for good relations with others, it is more important to maintain a steadfast and obedient relationship with Christ. Disobeying God to keep peace with other people is never wise. Peace with God is always paramount.

Jesus warned that obeying Him might cause division in your relationships (Matthew 10:35-36). If Paul's primary goal had been to please others, he would never have become an apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul went completely against the wishes of his colleagues in order to obey Christ. At times, obedience to God sets family members at odds with each other (Matthew 10:35-36). When you follow Jesus' lordship, your family may misunderstand, or even oppose you, yet your obedience to God reflects your identity as His child. Jesus said that those who obey His will are His brothers and sisters (Luke 8:21). God does not intend to divide the home, but He places obedience before domestic harmony.

It is important to get alone in quietness with God so that you understand what pleases Him. The WORLD'S thinking will mislead you more easily when you are not clear about what God desires. It broke Peter's heart to know that the opinion of a servant girl had mattered more to him that the approval of His Lord! If the desire to appease others tempts you to compromise what you know GOD wants YOU to do, learn from Peter's mistake. Determine that you will please the Lord regardless of the opinion of others."

"The fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be kept safe." Proverbs 29:25

NOTE: The Memorial Service for Dave Shoppy, our Director of Development, will be held on Monday, August 14, 2006 at Bayside Chapel in Barnegat. The service will begin at 2:00 PM.

Great quote: The key to lasting happiness and real pleasure in this world is not found in seeking gratification, but in pleasing God. And while the Lord desires that we enjoy His gifts and the people to whom we are joined, He wants us to know that we were created first for His pleasure.