but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. [1 thessalonians 2:4]
how do we know if the things we are thinking and doing is pleasing to the Lord?
great question. here are a couple of thoughts to meditate on this morning:
1) God … tests our heart. the Lord is testing our thoughts and actions through his word and his Spirit.
for the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. and no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. [heb 4:12-13]
and when he (the Spirit) comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: [john 16:8]
2) not to please man, but to please God … if we are to please God we must obey him when we speaks and i believe this mosts fully happens as we submit to God’s Spirit – who speaks through the word into our hearts. submission is an act of surrendering our will to his will, his direction and his love.
but i say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. for the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, [gal 5:16-17]
and do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled (be submitted) with the Spirit, [eph 5:18]
today, ask the Lord to give you the power and desire to submit to his Spirit. and, ask the Lord to speak through his Spirit and his word all day. commit your day to pleasing the Lord. test him in this and he will speak!
what will keep you today from submitting to the Lord? the first step in pleasing your king is realizing he is king and submitting. let’s submit to the Spirit and ask the Lord to empower our thinking and actions to please him in all we do!
Lord,
i submit my way, my will, my whole self to you. give me courage and love to follow. let me hear and obey as i submit so i can be fully pleasing to you. in Jesus name – amen!
~ john