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WWPJ - What will please Jesus?

WWPJ - What will please Jesus?

Words of Faith 10-3-17

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2017

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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2 Corinthians 5

[9] So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

 

      So what is our goal in life?

       The Westminster Catechism begins with the question: What is the chief and highest end of man? Answer: Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever. Sound good. But toward that end, what is our goal? What are we to do? On a daily basis, what is our aim? Paul is clear. Our goal is to please Him. This is the only place that we can enjoy.

       We live at the pleasure of the Lord Jesus. We are alive because of His grace and mercy. We live to please the Lord Jesus. Our redeemed existence is oriented toward what He desires. We live for the pleasure of the Lord Jesus. Everything that we do, all that we say, every word that we write, every act that we enter into... is for Him.

       Wow. I don't know about you but that was a convicting paragraph. But convicting or not, this is the call of the Spirit within us that is on deposit as a guarantee of His coming and as a guarantee of His work in us. We live to please Him.

       Many are familiar with asking the question WWJD-- What would Jesus do? It is a good question. But we might first ask a similar question: WWPJ-- What will please Jesus?

       Maybe it is good to consider what pleasing Jesus does not mean. That means we do not live to please ourselves. We may find pleasure and certainly will, but we do not live to please ourselves even if the world screams otherwise. We do not live to please family or friends or bosses. We do not live to please people or neighbors. We do not live to please the world. We do not live to please pastors or preachers or Sunday School teachers. We do not live to please anyone but Christ.

         These other people may guide us with wisdom or counsel us with scripture. They may not be pleased with us at the end of the day but we do not live to please them. We also do not live to purposefully offend others, but we cannot be guided by pleasing them or we will fail in our chief purpose which is to please God.

       But are we not supposed to obey the law of the government and obey parental guidance? Actually, we are to obey God first. We are not to obey laws that oppose the Law of God. We are to obey parents when we are children as long as they do not ask us to break the Law of God. As adults, we honor parents, give them weight, respect, and a place of care in our lives, because this is the Law of God. But our focus is always to please God.

       This is what Paul was talking about when he wrote to the Galatians-- "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ" (1:10). This was Paul's prayer for the believers-- "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10).

        And why this one focus? The Bible teaches that there is only one judgment seat and it is the judgment seat of Christ. Your mom will not be on that judgment seat. Nor will your boss be there. None of your neighbors will sit on that seat. Your pastor will not be on that seat. The opinions and judgments of people do not matter. They are irrelevant. Paul says that each person will receive "what is due him" for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

       So we don't worry about people? Oh no, we are very concerned for people because this is the heart of Jesus. We are kind, gentle and forgiving toward people, but not so that it will please them. Jesus said we are to be the servant of all, but not to please them. We do so because it pleases the Lord. When we are called by the Lord to serve others, their response or gratitude is irrelevant. Only the opinion of the Lord matters.

       Paul knew that he would one day be evaluated by his Master. He wanted to please Him and to hear from Him, "Well done, My good servant!" (Luke 19:17) All Christians will be evaluated at the judgment seat of Christ, which will follow the Rapture of the church.

       All believers will be recompensed for the things they have done in their earthly lives while in the body. Their good deeds will evoke one response and the bad or "worthless" will evoke another. Salvation is not the issue at this judgment seat. One's eternal destiny will not be determined at the judgment seat of Christ. Salvation is given by grace and is received by faith (Eph. 2:8-9), but deeds issuing from that faith will be evaluated.

         Paul began his first letter to the Thessalonians commenting on what such a life looks like-- "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1:3).

       This perspective had a profound effect on Paul. It enabled him to persevere in the face of hardship and it motivated him to be faithful in discharging his ministry. It set him free to listen clearly to God. This same perspective can help us to order our days and make the decisions of life.

         So who will you please today? Perhaps many people. But who will you live to please?

 

       Father God, I want to live only to please You. Direct my path and order my steps today. Focus my thoughts and settle my heart. Help me to see clearly the points at which I am pleasing You even when others are not pleased with me. Help me to not be clouded by the judgments and opinions of others. Yet also guide me, I pray through Godly counsel. May I please You today. In Jesus' Name.