Sometimes it's difficult for any of us to recognise our own deficiencies, nor can we distinguish our faults and failings in the Light of God. In that we all fall short of the Glory of God, but this is not an excuse to comply with whatever is easiest for us. In order to follow God's Will we need to understand The Way that Jesus showed us, and the path that Jesus Himself trod, what does Jesus say but that we must pick up our cross and follow Him.
When reflecting upon the Book of Job, one can see the human condition so well, in that when things were good Job was thankful to God and with sincere gratitude he thanked God for all he had been given for, `this man was blameless and upright' and that `he feared God(awe) and shunned evil'.
Then came the time when Job was informed by servants that not only had he lost his livestock but also the death of his children, Job in his grief ripped his clothes but still with filial trust he did not blame God. But that was not the end for Job, he then became covered in sores, but still he held fast to God despite the bitterness of his wife. Of course Job then did what many do, he turned to his friends for comfort only to find censure and finger pointing as his `friends' with no insight (from God) informed Job that he and his lack of faith was the cause of all his problems. Can we not feel for poor Job, who then went through the motions, of trusting in Gods goodness, bewilderment of Gods Way, resentment of God, self pity, anger towards God, are we not all a little like Job?
Then comes Peter, the Rock, who was the ultimate `people pleaser', the one who in trust stepped upon the water and walked towards Jesus, only to find himself sinking. Was Peter intent upon trusting God and His Power or impressing his friends for his `bravery'? It was Peter again who promised Jesus that he too would die alongside his Messiah, who was Peter trying to impress, Jesus or his friends? And later his act of true heroism when in confronting the crowd he cried in all Truth with, ' it was you with the help of wicked men put Him to death' but then consoles and instills hope amongst them with this Promise of God, "repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins". But once again as time progressed Peter vacillated over the `Law' in place of Love when eating with the Gentiles, it was left to Paul to correct him, so again who was Peter trying to please, God or man? Can we not also see ourselves reflected in this 'if it feels good then it must be ok' society?
When it comes to our own faith journey, and our own spiritual maturity, are we people pleaser's or do we live to please God?
If you find that you are living comfortably, that you get along with all, irrespective of their beliefs or their lifestyles, that no matter what group you are in, you are in agreement with everyone. If you are accommodating to all, whilst correcting none, and if your conscience never bothers you, while you are acquiescent to whatever the majority think even if it be accepting a known wrong, then whom are you pleasing?
For God did not create us to be `comfortable', but to worship Him and to show our love for God by being obedient to Scripture and the Churches Teachings. Do we waltz along our faith journey in a spirit of `coaxing God to go our way' rather than making sure we are `walking with God', and following His Way?
We must all recognise God's goodness even whilst we suffer, not because it's `what He wants to hear' but because God IS good irrespective of where circumstances have placed us. For in all the problems and difficulties we face or are yet to happen, we are not the point. He is! We exist for God and not Him for us!
So is your life comfortable, safe, do you enjoy popularity with everybody? If so, what price did you pay?
For Christ paid His life for yours, the Saints chose death and martyrdom over popular opinion, if anything Jesus and the Saints stood out because they went against popular opinion, and instead stood for Truth the Saints also died for this same Truth and did so fearlessly! When God's Truth is under assault do we stay silent in the hope that we will escape notice and become 'one of the crowd' as our culture becomes more secularised, rather than speak the Truth with conviction! If not then whom are you looking to please God or man?
If a group singles out individuals to intimidate and bully do you try and appease their aggression by practicing false charity, which is the highest form of self love rather than speak the truth, in case you too become a target for their animosity? When a person’s neediness overcomes their principles then whom are they pleasing?
For it would be better to find oneself alone with God than live outside of God!
In your daily life do your words ring with a mighty crescendo speaking with the Sword of Truth to afflict the comfortable, or are you the comfortable who is being afflicted.
Peace of Christ to ALL
Copyright © 2005 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.
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