Pleasing God. Keys to Understanding God’s Character
God isn’t some kind of ogre that wants to punish you! He is a loving God who wants you to succeed in every way and live a long, happy, healthy and prosperous life! However, God can’t be in the presence of evil or sin. So, those doing or plotting evil and/or not following God, leave God’s protection and are open to attack by the devil. Since it’s their choice, they have no business blaming God for not helping them do things out of His will. Would you pray, “God, please help me rob a bank?” That not his will so pleasing God should be constant. He just wants you to trust Him always.
Remember, God gives to all equally (Romans 2:11)! Everyone gets rain, a warming sun, seeds that grow into plants, oxygen, gravity, elements, etc. BUT, if a person defies one of God’s laws, there is a penalty. Defy gravity by jumping off a cliff and you’re going to get squashed! Defy any of God’s laws and you’ll pay the penalty!
So, what are God’s laws for us? Start with the 10 commandments (Deuteronomy 5).
1- No one and nothing should be more important than God to you.
2- Don’t worship anything or anyone except God.
3- Don’t use God’s name in any useless way such as swearing or exclaiming “Oh, God!”
4- Take one day a week and rest. How about Sunday? Have to work? Then take another day off.
5- Honor your parents. (also Colossians 3:20)
6- thru 9- Don’t murder; don’t commit adultery; don’t steal; don’t lie.
10- Don’t desire or crave anything (covet) that belongs to someone else!
Jesus put it this way: You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. Then, love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37, 39. Micah 6:9 says: And what does the Lord require of you a) but to do justly, b) To love mercy c) And to walk humbly with your God?
Maybe you’d like more guidance. Here are 7 things God hates:
– A proud and arrogant look about ourselves
– Lies (little white lies as well, because a lie is a lie! Claiming you mis-spoke is also a lie.)
– Murder – (someone who kills the innocent)
– A heart that plans evil
– Feet that race to do wrong
– Testifing in a lie against another
– A person who stirs up strife, discontent and discord in a family (sedition)
Question: What does God think about drugs, marijuana, smoking and drunk driving? In the Bible He doesn’t specifically state these are bad, so, is it OK?
Answer: You can sum up everything that is wrong and call it SIN. So why does God hate Sin? Cause it will kill you or someone else!!! (Smoking won’t keep you out of heaven. You just may get there sooner!) Have doubts about what’s allowable? Ask yourself: “Will it cause harm to anyone?”
Why does God want us to give money to our church? First, He wants us to honor Him. Second, the poor and needy can be more efficiently cared for. Third, He wants you to grow using the seed principle! Plant a corn seed in good ground and you’ll get 2400-3200 seeds back! Plant your money in a great church and you’ll get a fabulous return. However, plant on cement or in a worthless endeavor and you’ll get little in return!
Besides the 10 Commandments (not 10 suggestions), what else is pleasing God?
A- Helping orphans and widows an others in trouble and don’t get infected by others’ sins. James 1:27
B- Cheerfully give to those doing God’s work. 2 Corinthians 9:7
C- Constant listening to His Word (Romans 10:17) and acting upon it.
D- If possible, live in peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)
E- Husbands love your wives; Wives respect and submit to your husbands (Col 3:18-19 & Eph 5:22-33)
If you read Philippians 2:3-5 backwards its says this: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
We could list many others, making a career of what you should and shouldn’t do. However, I like how Jesus summed it up: Do for others what you would like them to do for you! Matt 7:12
After Joshua led all the Israelites to victory, he called all God’s children together and asked them to make a decision: Do you want to follow the gods of wood, metal and stone that all the losers worship, or do you want to follow the God of the Universe? Choose now! But for me and my entire family, we will serve the Lord.
Hey! That’s a good question. Who will you serve for the rest of your life? A fantasy character, a dead movie star, a politician, the devil, money, a photo, some piece of stone OR the Creator of the Universe? As for me and my entire family – We will serve the Lord!
Wow, lot’s of scripture. It’s good to have something to reference when there is a question. The Word is the answer!