Showing posts with label Pleasing God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pleasing God. Show all posts

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Proverbs 24:17-18 "When enemies fall"

“Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles: lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.”

Our vile human nature takes such delight to see our adversary stumble and fall. We can hardly wait to tell others of our rival’s demise. O, what a wretched lot we are! Instead of thinking of their good and seeking to win them to the Kingdom of God, we think only of our petty interests and differences. What an opportunity to show kindness to them, to help them, to lift them up, to show them unconditional love.
---------------------
“But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” –Matthew 5:44

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Proverbs 21:3 "More acceptable than sacrifice"

"To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice."

It is so much easier to sacrifice something for the Lord and tell others the things we are sacrificing for God. No doubt it appeals to our flesh, our desire to be thought well of by others. In short, it is often done to puff up our pride.

Yet, while we are 'sacrificing for the Lord', we are also enjoying the 'pleasures' of the world. Perhaps it is watching a movie that uses God's name in vain or violates God's standards in the 10 commandments. Are we practicing justice if we entertain ourselves with these things?
---------------
"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." -Jim Elliot.