Find Out What Pleases God

Fifty-2 Sunday's ~ Listening for God

       The focus of Sunday’s sermon was on having an "authentic" relationship with God.  The first commandment tells us to love God “... with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:28-30).  The emphasis of the sermon was on holiness as a factor of being in relationship with God. 

       The scripture says, ‘be holy as he is holy’ (I Peter 1:16).  So what is holiness?  What does it mean to 'be' holy?  The dictionary defines holy as “dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred".  The minister said, holiness is not about being "perfect" ~ which may seem contradictory to the scripture that says, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).  The verse follows the Beatitudes which Jesus taught using stories that contrasted God’s ways with the ways of the world.  To be ‘perfect’ is to do it God’s way.

       Jesus had to be "made perfect" in order to become the "source of eternal salvation for all who obey him" (Hebrews 5:9).  This process occurred over the course of Jesus' life on earth (Hebrews 5:7 & 8).

          As born again believers becoming and being holy is a process for us too.  We are charged "... to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:22).

     The process starts in the heart; having the desire to be in close relationship with God, to be 'right' with him and to please him in how we live and conduct ourselves.  We are told to "find out what pleases the Lord" (Ephesians 5:10) and to "work out our salvation" (Philippians 4:12) with "fear and trembling"- which is 'the process' (above).  We will make mistakes and fail at times, but if we get back up and ask for forgiveness, he is faithful to forgive. 

       God wants a relationship with us. He has not left us to figure this out on our own; we have the body of believers, the Word of God and the Indwelling Holy Spirit.  Therefore, let us not forget "... that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).