Monday, February 2, 2009

What Pleases God - Part 2

What Pleases God - Intro Post
What Pleases God - Part 1

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

I found in Part I that God is pleased when I allow the Holy Spirit to do His work of "sanctification" daily (such a big word for me). And He reminded me how to let the Holy Spirit work. By letting Him into my day. By spending time with Him listening & talking and studying His Word.

This verse in Hebrews shows what is needed to spend time with Him. It's the beginning step after we accept His grace and salvation through Him. We must build our faith. To please God, we must spend time with Him to allow the Holy Spirit to change us --- and to spend time with Him, we need faith.

We must have faith; because we won't totally "get" (as in fully comprehend or understand) Him. He's so much bigger and greater and more complex than we will ever be able to figure out -- and we have to be okay with that. We have to come to terms with the doubt that comes along with not knowing everything. Without doubt, there is no need for faith... and we have to be okay with that.

Without faith we won't go to Him because without faith we either don't believe in Him... or we don't believe in His perfectly good nature. We fear Him rather than trust Him. There's a break in our relationship.

The second part of the verse has to do with trusting His goodness. Trusting that He wants to spend time with us because He loves us. That He will reward those who seek Him. Reward them with love, peace, joy, the awesome fruits of the Spirit and His presence. I am sure it is so pleasing to Him when we trust that He wants good for us. As any parent would be pleased with. That our kids are confident in our love and deisre for good for them. I am sure He is pleased when we trust that He wants to spend time with us because He loves us.... not because He wants to burden us with guilt, unbearable discipline, shame.... but because He loves us that much. He loves to be with those that He loves. Don't we all?

He loves when people understand His good nature.

So the faith that it takes to go to Him is so pleasing to God. The faith that it takes to trust in His goodness and that He will reward our desire to be with Him is pleasing to Him.

And how do we build our faith? faith cometh by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17)

but if you don't hear the Word - you won't have faith - so you won't go to Him - so He can't work in your life - so you won't trust in His goodness - so you won't go to Him - so you won't hear His Word --- what a dark cycle.

People need to hear the Word so their faith can be built. So they will believe in God. So that they will trust God enough to go to Him. So that the process of the Holy Spirit's sanctification can start. So that they will be filled with love and the desire to spend time with Him. So that the Body of Christ grows stronger and healthier with lives that are pleasing to Him. And these lives will then be rewarded with the blessing of knowing Him and His love that defines who we are.

It all starts with hearing the Word. But nobody will hear it, if nobody is living it. Nobody will hear it if nobody is engaging in other's lives and planting seeds from His word.

4 comments:

Sandy @ The Scoop on Balance said...

Just wanted to say thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a thoughtful comment. I love that you "rambled." You articulated beatifully that God led you down the same path. I love that!! Sometimes when I write a post, I wonder if others are going to go, "Gosh...I never felt like that!" It's good to know others can relate.

I'll need to come back and read your blog when I don't have kiddos screaming in the background.

Blessings!
Sandy

Randi Jo :) said...

Thanks for stopping by! :) Have a blessed day!

Anonymous said...

What a blessing and and encourager you are. I am exceedingly glad our paths crossed in the blogosphere. Have a beautiful day! Minnow

jeleasure said...

Hi Randi,
I have not seen a visit from my wife, yet. Her name is Vicki. Both of us are extremely busy. However, we do want to encourage your blogging. Your message is a needed encouragement for people.

Here is a line I liked from this post:

"He loves when people understand His good nature."

Exactly. Would you believe we can encourage God?
Sure. If we've been God's enemies and have been a source of adversity in his plan to have a family, when we, as the wayward child return to the path He desires us to be on, He is encouraged.
God is encouraged because we will then accept the "Great Commission" to go out and make disciples of all people.

Have a good evening. I'm spending time trying to catch up on your blog and some others.
Jim