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Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net How do you please God? And how does one hurt God? You may say “no one really sets out to hurt God”. And if that’s 100% true in your circle of friends, then you are truly blessed. So let’s focus on the unintentional folks today. Most believers and non believers alike, think that in order to please God, it takes some sacrificial work of some sort. Again, a very popular song on the radio right now says “I put an extra $20 in the offering plate for what I did today, and what I plan to do tonight. I hope the preacher is aware”. As if God’s favor is for sale? The thing that offends me is not that a person would believe this way, it has always been thus. What shocks me, is that so many people I visit believe this. “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” - Psalm 51:16-17. So that’s what it’s not; What is it? In Matt. 25:34 and following, Jesus in a parable commends folks for ministering to Him when he was hungry, thirsty, naked, sick and in prison. The folks answer: “We never did any of those things”. He replies in vs 40: “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”. Nugget: When Jesus confronted "Saul"/Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), He didn't say: "Saul, how come you are persecuting my people?" He was, but Jesus rather said "Saul Saul, why presecutist thou me?". Let that sink in. The reciprocal of this is also true. Eph 4:30-32 warns us: “grieve not the holy Spirit of God”; and then gives us some specifics to avoid (Not Do). “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”. In our heart of hearts, we separate crimes against God, from crimes against man. However, the common denominator in both of the above examples, is that the object of our blessings or our curses, is not God, but man. When we treat others well, it Pleases God, and when we are cruel to one another, it grieves. Think about this for a minute. Suddenly the Golden Rule we have grown to make fun of, doesn’t seem so benign. People agonize over God’s will for their lives. Here it is. Be nice to one another. Even the ones that can never repay, or that don’t deserve it. This really pleases God. Purpose in your heart to do it today. God Bless. |
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