Many of us enjoy pleasing people. We please them through various acts of kindness, giving words of encouragement, or taking the time to listen to them. Our concern for them draws them closer to us and allows us to help them through the hard times.
We also please others when we believe in them and are active in helping them reach their goals. Some of us have a servant’s heart and a giving spirit while others have the ability to encourage or believe. It takes little effort on our part to please and uplift others. It comes naturally. Our motives are pure. There are no hidden agendas. We gain personal satisfaction knowing we have done or said something that pleased someone else.
I enjoy pleasing others in my family, on my job, and in my church. I don’t mind going the extra mile for someone and sacrificially giving of myself. Those who know me will attest to this. However, regardless of how much you or I enjoy pleasing others, our concern should be more about pleasing God the Father.
God states the way to please Him is by faith. There is no other way. The entire Christian belief is predicated on faith. Our walk with Him is based on faith—faith in God and Jesus’ sacrificial death and finished work of the cross. We must have faith in God’s Word. It is 100 percent truth, written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Our faith means believing God is Who He says He is and can do what He says He’ll do. It takes faith to stand and rely on His countless promises written in His Word.
If we wholeheartedly believe this and act accordingly, God will smile upon us.
Now my child, you are pleasing me—for without faith it’s impossible to do so. Have faith.
(Photo courtesy of office.microsoft.com.)
(For more devotions, visit us at www.christiandevotions.us.)
Carmen Harris is an aspiring writer to the glory of God. She has submitted devotions and has a published devotion in Women At The Well - Volume II, published by Judson Press. She is an evangelist and missionary, and has taught Bible study at her local church. She is passionate about the cause of Christ. Carmen desires for God to use her writings to help encourage and impact the lives of others, leading them to a rich, ongoing relationship with God.