PLEASING GOD Part 1

and find out what pleases the Lord. Ephesians 5:10

‘Noah was a pleasure to the Lord’ (Genesis 6:8). Want to please God? Do what Noah did: (1) He trusted God completely. Listen: ‘By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see and acted on what he was told - As a result, Noah became intimate with God’ (Hebrews 11:7). Noah had never seen rain. He lived many miles from the nearest ocean. Even if he could learn to build a ship, how would he get it to water? And how about rounding up all those animals? For 120 years he was a laughing stock. Yet he trusted God - and outlived every critic! (2) He obeyed God wholeheartedly. Listen: ‘Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him’ (Genesis 6:22). Obedience doesn’t say, ‘I’ll pray about it.’ Delayed obedience is disobedience! God doesn’t owe you an explanation. Understanding can wait, obedience can’t! Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions. In fact, you’ll never understand some commands until you first obey them. Sometimes we try partial obedience: ‘I’ll attend church, but I won’t get involved. I’ll read my Bible, but I won’t forgive the one who hurt me.’ Get real - partial obedience is disobedience! James says, ‘a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone’ (James 2:24). Why is obedience so important to God? Because His Word says: ‘If you love Me, you will obey My commandments’ (John 14:15 ). Anything else is just infatuation.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Forgive me when I disobey your Word. Help me to obey, knowing that your grace and mercy are always there for me. Help me move in the right direction. In Jesus’ Name, Amen