Sunday Week 4 — Just As He Is

by | Jan 28, 2018 | Daily Devotional, General |

Just As He is

Scripture For Today: Romans 12:1-2

A few weeks ago, I was talking with someone who had come over to the house for counselling. In the course of the discussions, he said to me with all the seriousness that he could muster; Pastor, I want to ask you two questions:

What does it really mean to please God? What does it mean to delight oneself in the Lord?

 He had just heard a minister preach who said that there was nothing that we could do to please God, and he was a bit confused about that statement.

Is it true that there is nothing that we can really do to please God? I beg to disagree…Everything about that thought is a complete contradiction of what the bible teaches us!
 
In a way, both of the questions that my friend asked, are interwoven in their context.

When you delight yourself in the Lord, the end result is that you will live to please Him; and if you have a heart that seeks to please Him, you will end up delighting yourself in the Lord.

God desires for us to live to please Him; as the bible says in Revelations 4:11; He has created all things for His pleasure. To live to please God is the ultimate expression and manifestation of our love for Him. To please Him is to honour Him in every area of our lives. To please Him is to live the life of a disciple who will elevate God’s will above our own personal desires and aspirations. To please Him is to live like Romans 12:1
says in the Amplified translation of the bible:

“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.”

Psalm 37:4 says to “delight yourself in the Lord, and He will grant you the desires of your heart”. But the verses before and after then, I
think throw a bit more light on how we can delight ourselves in the Lord:
 
Psalm 37:3a – “Trust in the Lord and do good…”
 
Interestingly, the New English Translation of the bible connects all three verses together in a “cause and effect” manner:

“3Trust in the LORD and do what is right!
Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!

4Then you will take delight in the LORD,
and he will answer your prayers.

 5Commit your future to the LORD!
Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.”

So we see a sequence of actions in the three verses of scripture:
  •  
  •  

– Trust in the Lord

  • – Do what is right
  • – Then you will take delight in the Lord
  • – Commit your future to Him, trust in Him
Are your ways pleasing to God?; Do you live a life that delights in pleasing Him in all that you do?

 Selah,

Pastor Wale Ola

LIFE APPLICATION
1. What is God saying to me in today’s message?

2. What was ministered to me in the bible verses that I read today?

3. What are the changes or adjustments I need to make in my life to align with the word of God?

4. What is my commitment to the word for today?

5. What practical steps can I take to benefit from the word I have read today?

 
This Week’s Memory Verse: Romans 12:10

PRAYER FOCUS
To round up this series on love that we have been meditating
on over the past two weeks, I’ll like to share this prayer with you that I wrote during my quiet time a few months ago.

 

Just Like You Are – A Daily Prayer of Consecration

I want to be just like You Lord, conformed to Your image, lost in Your embrace.
 
Let my eyes behold the wonders of your word and see what you see
 
Let my ears hear your word and receive instructions from you
 
Let my hands be strong and diligent in doing your work
 
Let my feet not find their own way, but only walk the paths that You have chosen for me.
 
Let my heart be ever set on you, overflowing with the abundance of Your truth
 
Let my mind be fixed on you; let it be the mind of Christ filled with wisdom that comes from you
 
Let my mouth say what you say, declaring your counsel with grace and authority
 
Let my voice be nothing more than an echo of your heart
 
Let my life be a manifest expression of your person and your glory
 
Let the very essence of who I am bring Praise and glory to your Holy Name.
 
Today’s Song – Your Love is Extravagant by Casting Crowns