First Love - A Life Pleasing to God

If you pay attention closely, you can tell what is someone’s first love. 

If, for a Christian, his/her first love is God, Christ, His church....it will be evident by what shows in his/her life. If it is not God, Christ, the church....it will be blaring and screaming something else. 

Priorities are evident if we pay attention.

If I were to ask someone what was most important in my life, if I'm honest, sometimes it might look like things other than God, Christ, and the church were most important.  Social media isn't always an appropriate "judge" of what's most important in someone's life, but on the other hand....that's what we put out for others to see.  Yes, our close family and friends and acquaintances can see other examples, as well, but so much of our true life is hidden.  That's okay.  the Bible tells us to live quiet lives. 

It's appropriate that the passage below is under the heading, "A Life Pleasing to God".  

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.


9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

This is my desire, so I should make it a goal to evaluate and judge my life by this standard in God's Word.  May my first love be what God desires for it to be.  

What Am I Here For?

Do you ever wonder about your purpose?  Why you were born?  What your mission in life might be?  Why you are where you are?  Many people ask these questions every day.  Maybe all of us have as one time or another. 

Many spend their entire life searching for the answers to these questions, but as difficult as the questions may seem, the answers are really simple.  The answers are simple because they center on one simple principle:  We are here - each and every one of us - to do God's Will.  Simple, right?  Yes...at first the answer seems simple and in reality it is, but the fact is that we allow "things" to get in the way of this simple fact. 

Too many times we allow our own desires to get in the way of what God desires for our lives.  We believe that it is all up to us to find our purpose, forgetting God some times.  But, the truth of the matter is, we are not here on Earth to please ourselves.  We were put here to please Him and Him alone.

So, let's ask ourselves another question:  How can I do God's Will? Seeking to do God's will is an easy thing to say, but a must more difficult thing to do. So, to find out how to do this task, we look to the example of Jesus.  He is our example for everything in life.  He lived a perfect life - a life totally committed to God.  As His followers, we will strive to mimic His life's example of commitment and service to God.

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

John 6:38

Remember how Satan tempted Jesus? How did Jesus respond? With scripture, right? Jesus didn't argue with Satan, he just simply quoted back scripture to him.

Now let's look at how can we know God's Will. Here are five ways:

1. Scripture

To know what God's will for our lives is, we must know the scriptures.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:105

We can't just hear a sermon or a lesson once or twice a week and get to know what God's will for our lives is. We must study the scriptures. We must claim the words and the promises of God as our own. God's Word plainly tells us what His will for us is on many situations we will face in life.

For example, say we are having a problem with someone and we're not sure what to do. God's Word says,

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:4. Doesn't that passage pretty much clear up any problems we might be having with someone....if we really apply that message to our lives?

Scriptures help us know God's Will for us in many ways, but they won't tell us specifics....like “who should I marry?”. They give guidelines for marriage, but not specifics....such as who. We can pray for Godly Wisdom in making decisions in our life.

2. Pray for Godly Wisdom

God will not audibly tell us the answer, but He will guide us in our decisions. When something specific comes into our life that we need help with, prayer is the way we can seek God's counsel. By talking to Him.....asking for His help.....asking for wisdom to make decisions in our life....He will help us.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

James 1:5

Wisdom is “Knowledge Righteously Applied.” You and I can have all of the Bible knowledge possible, and decide not to use it. Satan knows the bible better than we do, yet he uses it wrong and in the wrong way. Knowing the Bible isn't enough. We must know how to apply it in our lives.When we are asking God for wisdom and using His Word as a guide for our lives, He will point us in the right direction and help us know what His Will for our lives is.

He also gave us each other.....to help each other.

3. Seek Godly Counsel

God did not create us to be alone. He created us to be in fellowship with one another. We can (or should be able to) gain wisdom from one another. We can seek counsel from Godly spouses, friends, family members, preachers, elders, teachers....all kinds of people.....even people we don't know through books or websites. However, this is where the scriptures and wisdom come in....we must make sure what these counselors tell us is what is true and right. We want counsel that will help guide us to finding God's Will....not those that will guide us in the wrong direction.

The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 12:15

4. Open Doors (Opportunities)

If God wants you to go in a certain direction he will open doors for you. Or he will close certain doors.

Just this summer three of my family members had job offers that come out of nowhere. God opened doors that they weren't even thinking about. It's great to see God's hand in each of those situations.

However, I have a friend who made a statement recently about her life.  She said, .“God kept putting hurdles in my way, but I kept jumping over them.”  Have you ever felt like my friend?  That God was trying to help you, but your wants and desires led you down the wrong path?

Closed doors may be a way that God is trying to keep us from making mistakes and yet we, like my friend, may continue to jump the hurdles God is placing in front of us. We may be doing our own will, instead of looking for His Will.

Open doors may be God's way of getting us to do His Will.

I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Revelation 3:8

But, beware.....Satan can open doors, too....and he does. We must use scriptures, wisdom, and wise counsel so that we won't jump over the hurdles God places in our paths or go down doors that are opened by Satan.

God will guide us to do His Will if we allow Him to do so. 

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:1

By renewing our mind......by dramatically changing the way we think.....Only then will be able to test and approve what God's will for our lives is.

5. A Peaceful Heart

Having a heart that is at peace means that we are thinking about spiritual things and not earthly things. It means we are using the Bible to guide our lives, we are praying for Godly wisdom....we are seeking Godly counsel.

When we truly have an open door...opened by God....where we are taking scripture and applying it to our lives....we will have a peaceful heart about the situation. Not a “comfy feeling” or a “good feeling” because we can sometimes even feel okay with sin. What I'm talking about is a true, God-given peace. Peace that comes from seeking His Will for your life. Peace that comes from undergoing a dramatic change. Peace that only comes from God.

So, from now on, when you want to ask, "What am I here for?"  Your answer can be an emphatic, "As a follower of Jesus, I am here to do God's Will!"

Best Laid Plans

Isn't it amazing how life is sometimes? Yesterday (Sunday) I thought I had everything all planned out for today (Monday). I was going to get up, write a new post on the blog and even write two more to have ready for later on in the week.

Unfortunately, last night I began getting sick with the stomach virus. The virus that has gone through our family and throughout our small town and school for the past few weeks. So, instead of doing the things I had planned for Monday, I spent the day in bed. Later this evening when I did begin to feel a little better, I thought I might be able to get some work done, but the computer messed up and it wouldn't let me go to any webpage. So, my plans did not work out the way I thought they would!

Things not going the way I had planned make me think of the scripture,

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 19:11-13

I can make plans for my day, but what really ends up happening is in God's hands. So tomorrow, if it is the Lord's Will I will accomplish what didn't get done today. If not, it is a humble reminder that God is in control and not me.

Have a great week!