Tag Archives: please

Pleasing the Father (John 8:28-29), February 23, 2017

Today’s Podcast

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
How hard did you work to make your father pleased when you were a kid? I sometimes worked really hard, but often failed miserably. My early days of sitting on the front pews of the church were often accompanied by spanking for my misbehavior when I got home. Not exactly pleasing behavior, I expect.
Scripture
1. John 8:28-29
2. They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
Devotional
1. I’m a preacher’s kid. Growing up, my brother and I usually sat on the front seat so my dad could keep an eye on us.
  1. Had a problem sitting still
  2. Got in trouble almost every service
  3. I wanted to please my father, but just had to cut up with my brother instead of paying attention to the service
  4. I knew the rules, sit still, be quiet, and listen
  5. I could only do that for a little while when I was in elementary school
  6. Wanted to please, but got in trouble a lot
2. We’re like that with THE Father
  1. We know the rules
  2. We know when we are about to break them
  3. We know what He wants from us and how He wants us to behave
  4. Like little kids that can’t sit still, we can’t please Him sometimes
  5. We do our own thing instead of obeying
  6. And we get in trouble
3. As I matured, I learned to appreciate what the pastor was saying
  1. First my dad
  2. Later other pastors
  3. I still want to please my earthly father
  4. I want to please my heavenly Father more
4. Always present to help me know how to please Him
  1. Sometimes have to guess with our earthly fathers
  2. We think we know what they want, but we don’t
  3. God lives with us and in us to guide us if we will listen to His voice
  4. Earthly fathers can’t be with us all the time to help us through life and let us know what they want. God can and does
  5. Earthly fathers change their minds and change the rules sometimes
  6. God never does, His plan for our salvation has not changed since the beginning of time and Adam’s first sin
5. Do I always please Him?
  1. No
  2. But He always forgives when I ask in true repentance
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Please God and work for Him (Philippians 2:5-18) December 6, 2015

Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Philippians 2:5-18

Set – Philippians 2-3

Go! – Philippians 1-4

Philippians 2:5-18
⁵ In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed. Live with His attitude in your hearts. Remember:
⁶ Though He was in the form of God,
He chose not to cling to equality with God;
⁷ But He poured Himself out to fill a vessel brand new;
a servant in form
and a man indeed.
The very likeness of humanity,
⁸ He humbled Himself,
obedient to death—
a merciless death on the cross!
⁹ So God raised Him up to the highest place
and gave Him the name above all.
¹⁰ So when His name is called,
every knee will bow,
in heaven, on earth, and below.
¹¹ And every tongue will confess
“Jesus, the Anointed One, is Lord,”
to the glory of God our Father!
¹²So now, my beloved, obey as you have always done, not only when I am with you, but even more so when I can’t be. Continue to work out your salvation, with great fear and trembling, ¹³ because God is energizing you so that you will desire and do what always pleases Him.
¹⁴ Do all things without complaining or bickering with each other, ¹⁵ so you will be found innocent and blameless; you are God’s children called to live without a single stain on your reputations among this perverted and crooked generation. Shine like stars across the land. ¹⁶ Cling to the word of life so that on the day of judgment when the Anointed One returns I may have reason to rejoice, because it will be plain that I didn’t turn from His mission nor did I work in vain. ¹⁷ Even if my lifeblood is to be poured out like wine as a sacrifice of your faith, I have great reason to celebrate with all of you. ¹⁸ And for the same reason, you can be glad and celebrate with me.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Paul inserted the words of a hymn the early Christians sang as they gathered together for worship. They wanted to remember who I am and why I came to live alongside you. It’s a good hymn. It tells the story of My departure from heaven to be with you. It tells of My death and resurrection and intercession for you at the right hand of the Father. But Paul doesn’t stop with the short hymn. He lets the Philippians and you know your responsibility because of the truth of they hymn those early Christians passed on to you.

Paul says, “Continue to work out your salvation, with great fear and trembling, because God is energizing you so that you will desire and do what always pleases Him.”

That doesn’t mean good works will get you to heaven, but James also reminds you that faith without a demonstration of your faith by good works is dead. Paul tells you often it is by faith you are saved so that none may boast. I told you that all who believe in Me will not perish but will have eternal life. So it’s faith that gets you to heaven, but your good works demonstrate the faith you have in Me. The demonstration comes not because of duty, but because of love. Love for Me and love for your brothers and sisters in My kingdom.

That’s also why in the next breath Paul says do everything for Me without complaining. If you do good works for Me out of duty, you’ll begin to complain. You can’t keep it up without grumbling. Just look at the history of the Israelites. They couldn’t help but grumble when they followed Me out of duty. It takes love to continuously do good works without grumbling. And until My love lives in you, you can’t please Me. You can’t live the life I want you to live. You can’t do the good works I have for you.

So work out your salvation. It requires faith first, but I created you to work. I didn’t create you to just sit around. I intend for you to do good works so that all may understand that I am a God of love and grace and mercy. You are the instrument of those attributes when you give yourself fully to Me. Never forget everything starts with faith. Without it you can’t begin to please Me, but then do what I ask of you, and I will ask you to good works for Me, because it pleases Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

To please God, love (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12) November 29, 2015

Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Set – 1 Thessalonians 4; 2 Thessalonians 3

Go! – 1 Thessalonians 4-5; 2 Thessalonians 1-3

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
¹So finally, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus, we ask you, we beg you to remember what we have taught you: live a life that is pleasing to God as you are already doing. Yes, we urge you to keep living and thriving in that life! ² For you know the instructions we gave you, instructions that came through the Lord Jesus. ³ Now this is God’s will for you: set yourselves apart and live holy lives; avoid polluting yourselves with sexual defilement. ⁴ Learn how to take charge over your own body, maintaining purity and honor. ⁵ Don’t let the swells of lustful passion run your life as they do the outsiders who don’t know God. ⁶ Don’t violate or take advantage of a fellow believer in such matters. As we told you before and warned you: the Lord will settle the score with anyone who does these things. ⁷ Here’s why: God does not call us to live impure, adulterous, scandalous lives, but to seek holiness and purity. ⁸ If you ignore this message, then you’re not only rejecting us but you’re rejecting God, the One who has given His Holy Spirit to live in you.
⁹ Now there’s no need for us to send you instructions on caring for your faith family because God Himself has already taught you how to love outside yourselves. ¹⁰ And it’s evident you learned that lesson well by the way you love all the people of Macedonia. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to love even more ¹¹ and make it your goal to lead a peaceful life, mind your own business, and keep your hands busy in your work, as we have instructed you. ¹² That way you will live peacefully with those on the outside, and all your needs will be met without depending on others.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Paul summed up his teaching with a good motto you should remember. Live a life that is pleasing to Me. He goes on to tell give you a few examples of what that means, but the bottom line rests in that simple motto. Live a life that is pleasing to Me. Too many times I see people trying to live their lives to please other people instead of pleasing Me. They look to make other people happy.

The problem is that it doesn’t work. You can make a few people happy, but when you make one person happy you make others mad. You can never please everyone. People are too fickle in their emotions, wants, and wishes. No matter what you do to please them, it will never be enough. People will always want something more. So you cannot please people. You’ll find yourself disappointed and frustrated in your efforts.

Pleasing people won’t matter in the end, anyway. It’s not people who will judge your actions when you give an account of yourself at the end of time. I will be the one to judge you, not them. People cannot judge fairly. Only I can. So you will give an account of yourself to Me and Me alone. So if that is true, then why would you want to please people instead of pleasing Me. Wouldn’t you want to please the one who will judge your performance in the end?

So, there we are. Paul’s summation. He got it absolutely right. Please Me and your life will be on the right path. You will love others if you live to please Me. You will live a holy life if you please Me. You will live a moral life to please Me. To please Me, you will live generously and care for the needs of others. You will avoid sexual immorality and learn how to take charge of your own body. You will do all those things Paul talks about if you live a life to please Me.

In doing all those things, though, you’ll find it won’t be a burden to you, because in pleasing Me you’ll find you do it because of love, not duty. You’ll find love the driving factor in your life as you love Me and others. It’s a life of love that pleases Me, you see, not a life of rules and duty. So as you do the things I’ve talked about, you’ll love unconditionally. You’ll love Me and you’ll love others. You’ll love more than you can dream you can. You’ll please Me in doing so because I am love. And that’s it. Love to please Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.