Tag: pleasing God

“Just Live It!”

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“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:24

There are lives you read about or discover through other means that just make you wonder a little about how they did what they did.  Heroic tales of one coming through horrible circumstances with a story of deliverance for all ages.  Another’s strength and fortitude to carry on despite physical or challenging circumstances and more.  And still many others, in varied scenarios, whose biographies you read and stories you study, and you wonder what I can glean from that life, if anything, to steer me in my life’s journey.

But then, you have stories such as Enoch where you are not given many details to go by.  You know his story is special.  You know it’s significant.  And you are even given the reason why his story stands out.  But you are not given the how – how, what are the details?

There are just a few verses dedicated to this life without much information beyond the basic information of life and lineage being supplied.  But the most significant thing we do know about him is, “Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him,” Genesis 5:24.

Hebrews 11:5 gives us another window to peer through, but with the same ending we found in Genesis: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”  And other than a recorded prophecy in Jude, this is all that we know about him – but may I submit, it’s enough.

Humanity wants to know the details.   The human way of thinking wants to know how exactly he “walked with God” to experience such a miracle.  How exactly did he please God for God to just translate him from this life?

There is no checklist given.  There is no list of do’s and do not’s according to Enoch to follow to replicate his experience.

I, personally, am glad for the silence of the missing particulars.  For what they tell us is to just live it!  Live this life in faith and stop looking for a formula to follow.  Live this life in constant communion with God.  Live that the steps we take and the decisions we make may be pleasing in the eyes of our heavenly Father as well.

We don’t need to know the specifics of what Enoch did to try to gain our own “translation” moment.  All we need to know is what God has called each of us to.  What obedience and heart of devotion laid out in Scripture He asks us to live by.

If we had needed additional information on the hows and whys of Enoch’s moment in history, I believe that God would have made sure it was written in these holy pages.  Rather, I believe we are called to just live it – have a made-up mind to live for God for ourselves.  Watch our walk.  Ask, are my steps pleasing to the Father, and if not, how do I realign them?

The life of the faithful has numerous rewards promised to us in the Bible, such as:

“So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.” – Psalm 58:11

“A faithful man shall abound with blessings…” – Proverbs 28:20

“I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” – Jeremiah 17:10

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much…” – Luke 16:10

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” – Matthew 25:21

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” – Colossians 3:23, 24

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” – Revelation 22:12

But may our love focus our hearts on the God who has redeemed us, and let that flame of devotion burn deeply within.  Let it guide us to desire nothing short of, “I want to put a smile on the face of my heavenly Father.”

We may not experience a translation moment due to it, but a life of faithfulness will bring us into fellowship with God and in His presence forevermore (Psalm 16:11). 

My friend set not your heart on the details.  Set your heart on just living it.  That is what we glean from the life of Enoch, and leave the results and rewards to God.  What we don’t know about his life doesn’t matter as much as what we do know.  And what we do know is all of us, regarding our walk with God, are called to walk it out by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).

“Order my steps in thy word…” Psalm 119:133

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

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Praise From God

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Many of us are familiar with the sons of Jesse being ceremoniously paraded before the prophet Samuel to see who would be anointed as the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 16).

As with most people, Samuel viewed the potential candidates according to what he could see, judging by their physical appearance.  But it was God who interrupted his erroneous train of thought and informed Samuel the criteria by which He judges is far from the world of human perspective, saying, “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Praise from God will never be about what everyone else sees.  Praise from God will never be given based on what is done on the outside of an individual.  Outward rituals and performances never impress our God so much as the inner moving of one’s heart.

God has always been in love with the inner man, for it is only in that place of hiddenness where one’s true character and motives reside.  In this place, God’s eyes and knowing go beyond the scope of the visible.  God’s view of a person is more thorough in reach and scope than any human eye can fathom in that secret place inside.

People work strenuously to put on a show for others.  Do the right things, say the right words, and they will see that you are a good person.   Performance in a certain way will gain you the right audience and praise from people, right?

How we behave on the outside can be an overflow of the true character on the inside, but this is not always so.  While things may look good on the outside, the heart is what matters to God the most. And it is what’s in the heart that receives praise from God.

Paul wrote in Romans, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” (Romans 2:28-29; emphasis mine), meaning it doesn’t matter the rituals and performances one does on the outside to make themselves to appear to be a child of God, rather it is “the circumcision is that of the heart” that matters most.

My friend, we are living for the praise of God, living to please Him with our lives.  Outward rituals will never impress Him like a true heart that has been changed from the inside out instead of one trying to work righteousness from the outside in.

There are a lot of things that can touch your heart, but when living for God and loving Him touches it more, then something beautiful takes place there.  Something that cannot be ignored by the Father.

Prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 139:23-24. 

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Nix the “LIKE” Button of Life

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As I sit back and think sometimes I must admit that it simply amazes me how acclimated we have become as a people to the social media culture. In no way am I one who has come along to bash anyone’s use of social media.  I have accounts and you do, too.  That’s not what this article is about.

This is about how accustomed have we become to the pull of the “LIKE” button that these social media outlets offer. Let’s face it, how often when you post something do you check to see if it has been “liked” by anybody?  How often do you compare the number of likes to that of someone else or something you have posted before?  We have become a society obsessed with approval from people.

We are constantly becoming more and more concerned about what people think about us; about their opinions on our lives, clothes, and activities. It’s as if we can’t make a move without people giving us the green light letting us know that we are okay or we’re driving down a path or in a direction they support.

We must stop and ask ourselves what we are training ourselves to believe about ourselves since we need so much confirmation from people to get on with life? What about our children?  Those coming up exposed to these internet pulls, at such a young age are their lives being conditioned to find value of self in the “LIKE” buttons of life?

More importantly, are we more concerned about impressing the masses than we are living a life that is pleasing to God? If our lives had a “LIKE” button for Him to push would He be able to push it from the things He sees “posted” (from the things He sees lived out before Him)?

We need to learn to nix the “LIKE” button of life and live for an audience of One. We need to be more concerned if our life is pleasing to God or not.  In the end, this is all that really matters.

Below are verses that will encourage and remind you that God’s opinion is the only opinion that counts. May we be more concerned today about pleasing Him instead of seeking the approval of others.

  • “ For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”  – Galatians 1:10
  • “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” – John 12:43
  • “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” – Colossians 3:23
  • “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of ?” – Isaiah 2:22
  • “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” – Proverbs 16:7
  • “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” – Proverbs 29:25
  • “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” – John 5:44.

Devotion – Nix the “LIKE” Button of Life

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As I sit back and think sometimes I must admit that it simply amazes me how acclimated we have become as a people to the social media culture. In no way am I one who has come along to bash anyone’s use of social media.  I have accounts and you do, too.  That’s not what this article is about.

This is about how accustomed have we become to the pull of the “LIKE” button that these social media outlets offer. Let’s face it, how often when you post something do you check to see if it has been “liked” by anybody?  How often do you compare the number of likes to that of someone else or something you have posted before?  We have become a society obsessed with approval from people.

We are constantly becoming more and more concerned about what people think about us; about their opinions on our lives, clothes, and activities. It’s as if we can’t make a move without people giving us the green light letting us know that we are okay or we’re driving down a path or in a direction they support.

We must stop and ask ourselves what we are training ourselves to believe about ourselves since we need so much confirmation from people to get on with life? What about our children?  Those coming up exposed to these internet pulls, at such a young age are their lives being conditioned to find value of self in the “LIKE” buttons of life?

More importantly, are we more concerned about impressing the masses than we are living a life that is pleasing to God? If our lives had a “LIKE” button for Him to push would He be able to push it from the things He sees “posted” (from the things He sees lived out before Him)?

We need to learn to nix the “LIKE” button of life and live for an audience of One. We need to be more concerned if our life is pleasing to God or not.

I don’t know about you but I want to live a life pleasing to God. In the end, this is all that really matters.

Below are verses that will encourage and remind you that God’s opinion is the only opinion that counts. May we be more concerned today about pleasing Him instead of seeking the approval of others.

  • “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:10
  • “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” – John 12:43
  • “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” – Colossians 3:23
  • “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of ?” – Isaiah 2:22
  • “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” – Proverbs 16:7
  • “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” – Proverbs 29:25
  • “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” – John 5:44.