Please God!

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14 calls to mind the position of so many children of God to the things of God. This is so relevant now especially with the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so near. The Pharisee started a eulogy on how good he had been and rated himself better than the corrupt and sinful Tax Collector. This was sad because the Bible tells us that a man that does this lacks understanding. Friend, our commendation or approval is not based on whether we fared better than the next man. Our commendation and approval will ONLY be based on the standard that God Himself had set. Our daily life and service to God must be geared towards pleasing He that had created and sent us. He alone can adjudge us good or bad. The Bible says that when God created the earth and all the starry hosts, He looked at His work and He declared it good not the creatures. No wonder He declared concerning us in Psalm 139:14 that we are wonderfully and remarkably made; in fact all His works are wonderful. One basic standard that God had put in place for us to check ourselves if we are serving Him acceptably or not can be found in Psalm 24:3-4. It talks about the qualities of who can ascend, remain and dwell in His Presence. Such a man must have clean hands, a pure heart, and a mind set on God and does not engage in empty and vain speech. Only such can dwell in the Presence of the Everlasting Fire (God Himself). It is way beyond whether you are called or not to a specific assignment. Only in this position, can He teach you how to please Him.The bottom line is for every man that has been born of God and bears His name, to carry out his duties either in the Congregation of God or in the world's market place according to the standard of God. The Bible says the Pharisee, thinking of his righteousness rolled out a list of the good things he had done and is doing for God vis-à-vis the Corrupt and Sinful Tax Collector; that he believes was a candidate of hell. As a result he became detestable to God. Remember, man's righteousness is as filthy rags before the Lord. A man that walks in such pride will always be resisted by the Lord! Friend, it does not matter what any man may rate your walk or work with God. You just make sure you are on the mountain of God which is His presence every minute and second of the day. There is no way you can be on that mountain that you will walk in pride, arrogance, selfishness, jealousy, discontent, hatred or lust. The reason being: your whole attention is caught and centered on Him and how to please Him. Make it a point of duty, dear friend, to wake up each day with one agenda, to PLEASE your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.