Scripture

I always do what pleases Him.

John 8:29, Williams

Quote

Holiness consist in thinking like Christ and willing what He wills.

~Jerry Bridges

Jesus had a passion and it was to please His Father. At Jacob’s well Jesus said to His disciples, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work”. In John 5:30 He said, “I seek not to please myself but Him who sent Me.” In John 6:38 He said, “I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me.” In John 14:30-31 we find these words, “I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over Me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded Me.” Twice among witness, those around Christ heard God speak audible, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus mission statement was simply…Obey the Father.

Perhaps you are thinking: I had rather be a slave; at least a slave can run away from his master. We are His slaves and yet we have more freedom than any people on the planet. We live in a conflicted world; every one is not going in the same direction. People are torn in many directions. They are like sheep without a shepherd. When we give our lives to Christ a struggle begins, who do we please? Do we please Christ or do we give into the flesh, the world and the devil? The world is pulling us in one direction and Jesus is leading us in another. The greatest freedom comes when we die to self and to our will. God has a will and you and I have a will but there is a bit of conflict, right? There is a rebel living in your body and he doesn’t want to run up the white flag. He is determined to have his way.

You would jump at God’s will if you had His foreknowledge but you don’t know what He has in mind and you have not learned to trust Him completely. I’m no David Livingston or William Carey. As a young man growing up in a Southern Baptist church, I was horrified at the idea of being a missionary in Africa. I struggled with this for more than ten years before I got peace and confirmation that God had called me to be a pastor. I noticed something about Missionaries in this last couple of decades, they have a passion for their work. They don’t go to the mission field under direst, they go excitingly. You are going to be someone’s slave and I will take Jesus over all the other masters. I certainly choose Him over fear. He is a GOOD MASTER. Surrender your will to Him.

Extra

Feeling a little better each day but the boss says I am staying in until Saturday. Keep praying for those who are really sick like Christy and Charity. God is good. I hope you have a good day and don’t spill your Diet Pepsi. I can drink only one a day {fountain} and I spilled it getting it out of the frig so I came to the office with a heavy heart mourning the loss of my Diet Pepsi. Have you ever heard anything so pathetic? I went to bed last night thinking about that Diet Pepsi.