“Our Daily Bread”      http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Written by bruce r. mills for “God’s group” @ www.Godsmanforever.com

“Do you please God ??”

John 8:29…  “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone,  for I always do those things that please Him.”  (NKJV)

Jesus lived a perfect life, never ever sinning…  And God used His Son Jesus, to show us how we should live our lives…  We as “born again” Christians have been graced with salvation by God Himself, and filled with the Holy Spirit to guide and direct every facet of our lives… When we yield total control of our lives to the Holy Spirit, we as redeemed children of God will be conformed into the image of Christ…  This process of the believer’s life being conformed into the image of Christ is a lifelong process known as “Progressive Sanctification”  [See Ref 1. for a good link explaining progressive sanctification]

This scripture verse comes to mind to explain how believers are to be conformed to Christ’s image…

Romans 8:29… For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  (NKJV)

When I googled “being conformed into the image of Christ”, I was surprised to find a link with 96 Bible verses on this idea of becoming like Christ !!  [See Reference 2. below for this link]  As I scrolled through this list of 96 verses, this verse is also a good one to read and understand…

Romans 12:1-2…  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  (NKJV)

The believer’s body is a temple for the Holy Spirit to indwell…  Because we as “born again” Christians who were bought by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, we should always do our best to honor God with our bodies…1 Corinthians 6:19-20…  This scripture verse (Romans 12:1-2) is for believers only, and tells us to focus our lives on God, renewing our minds all the time by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit as we keep a short list of sins…and confess, repent, and turn from any and all sins, when the Holy Spirit convicts us that we have sinned…

1 John 1:9…   If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)

The unbeliever’s lifetime of sins at the time of salvation, are not only forgiven…they are forgotten by God…Isaiah 43:25…   Believers will still sin after salvation…but with all known sins confessed, repented of, and turned from, the believer’s unrighteousness is forgiven, and God looks at His redeemed, “born again” children and see the righteousness of His Son, with a heart filled with the love of Christ…  With our hearts cleansed of all known sins, we are once again filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-20), and we are able to walk in and by the power of the Holy Spirit…

Galatians 5:16…   I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  (NKJV)

I have just given you 3 scripture verses for the “born again” Christian…that if followed will give the believer a life that will be pleasing to God…  I spent a day writing on these 3 scripture verses that can be read at Ref. 3. Below…

Are you pleasing in God’s eyes ??  First and foremost, you must be obedient to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)…and “born again” by God’s grace alone, through saving faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ…  [See Ref 4. below for a gospel presentation]

Hebrews 11:6…   But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  (NKJV)

Without saving faith in God, you cannot please Him…  And once you become a redeemed, “born again” Christian, God will bless those who diligently seek Him by spending time reading, studying, and applying God’s Word to their life in order to grow in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord… Your spirit must be fed by spending time in God’s Word, hopefully, every day…  Jesus tells us how important this is in…Matthew 4:4, and Luke 4:4…

Matthew 4:4…  But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (NKJV)

God’s Word is living and powerful, and has the ability to cut right to the core of thoughts and intents of the heart…Hebrews 4:12…

The Bible also tells us how important it is to go to church with fellow believers with like minds, in this scripture…

Hebrews 10:24-25…  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (NKJV)

You can add to your spiritual knowledge and wisdom by joining a Bible Study at your church, or somewhere else believers who are intent on pleasing God will meet to study God’s Word…  And if your church has a Sunday School before church, by attending you will find yet another way of pleasing God…

And lastly (and sadly often neglected), is a weekly prayer time…where believers gather to worship and praise the Lord…as well to ask God to heal the sick, help those out of work to find jobs, provide journey mercies for those traveling…and any other needs or concerns of the gathered church members…

This is by no means a complete list of what God would love to see His children do…but it is a good start if you want to live a life that both you and God would be proud of…

Gracious God and heavenly Father, I pray Your Word above would encourage believers and non-believers alike to get involved in a local church to grow in their knowledge and wisdom of Your Son, Jesus Christ…  I pray that the Holy Spirit would work in the lives of all readers to encourage them to live “Spirit-filled” lives that will honor and glorify You like never before…  I pray for these things in Jesus’ most precious name, and for His sake…Amen…

Blessings in Christ,  bruce

References:

1. What is progressive sanctification ??-  https://www.gotquestions.org/progressive-sanctification.html

2. 96 verses on being conformed into Christ’s image-  https://www.openbible.info/topics/conforming_to_the_image_of_christ

3. 3 most important scripture verses for the “born again” Christian-

   https://godsmanforever.com/2022/01/24/my-thoughts-on-the-3-most-important-pieces-of-scripture-for-the-born-again-christian-1-24-2022-written-by-bruce-r-mills-for-gods-group/

4. Gospel of Christ presentation- https://godsmanforever.com/

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