Well Pleasing
“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:9
Well pleasing to Him. . . It has always been a scary thought to me to stand before the LORD one day, in His very presence. I know He is my high priest and has gone between me and the judgement of God. 1 John 2:1-2 tells me that Jesus is the propitiation for my sin. Glory to God! It means God poured out all His wrath for my sin onto Jesus. “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. But if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” This is very good news! Therefore, when I stand before the LORD, my sin is not being judged and I will have no debt to pay because it has already been paid in full with the blood of Jesus!
According to today’s scripture reading, the believers that stand before the LORD at the Judgement Seat of Christ will be judged according to their works, what we did in this body and in this lifetime. The scripture says whether it was good or bad. This is where I take the opportunity to consider what is good work, what is bad work? Jesus gave us a list in the sermon on the mount of “good works” are and then told us to let our light shine people with these good works and glorify the Father. Below is the list from Matthew 5:3-16:
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Blessed are those who mourn
Blessed are the meek
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
Blessed are the merciful
Blessed are the pure in heart
Blessed are the peacemakers
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you
He concluded with: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Our “good works” as believers is our witness and example to the people of the world. What we display to them is what they will see as the heart of God. This is why it is so important not to take on the same complaints and attitudes of the world. As believers, our job is to display the fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. (see Galatians 5:21-22) These should be our heart and attitude in everything that comes in life, whether peril or pestilence, even in heart ache and suffering. In the good times and bad times God’s grace gives us the ability to bear His fruit. The fruit of the Holy Spirit will always display a heart to build up others instead of focusing on our own worries and concerns.
Today I want to encourage you to consider even though judgement day may be years away, keep it in mind. As you walk through the day, consider what you can do to show His fruit to others. Whether it is reaching out to someone with a word of encouragement, or running errands for an elderly neighbor, you can do God’s good works right where you are. Display God’s heart for the people of the world by your words, attitude and acts of love and make it your aim to be well pleasing to the LORD!
Today’s scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 5:9-11
Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
The Daily Dose 