The Proclaimer

Seeking God's Pleasure

In trying to reach the lost with the gospel of Christ, one of the greatest challenges before us is convincing folks they need a Savior.  The fact is, many people in the denominational world are satisfied right where they are and are unwilling even to question either what they believe or practice.  Many measure religion on the basis of personal preference and whether or not a particular church satisfies them.  Such an attitude is manifested when an appeal is made to “attend the church of your choice.”

But the real question is not whether you are satisfied with your religion, but whether God is satisfied with your religion.  Remember what the wise man writes, “This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecc. 12:13).  It is God’s favor we should be seeking, not our own pleasure or that of other men, for “if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10).  As Jesus put it, “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say” (Luke 6:46).  Clearly heaven awaits only those who “doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).  And Jesus brings salvation only “unto all them that obey him” (Heb. 5:9).

We need to be like Paul, and “make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him” (2 Cor. 5:9).  Jesus makes it clear that to be His disciple one must, “deny himself, and take up his cross daily” (Luke 9:23).  To be sure, this will require sacrifice on your part.  But it is this attitude that will enable you to “count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:8).  It will enable you to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service” (Rom. 12:1). 

That which made the Bereans “more noble” was that “they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).  It was God’s Word they were ready to receive, therefore they wanted to make sure that what they believed and practiced was in accordance with that Word.  So it should be with us.  While we can easily see the danger of complacency in the denominational world as many have long ago stopped searching for truth, it may be more difficult to see it in ourselves.  Are you still “examining the scriptures daily,” to see whether these things are so?  Or do you think, “This is the way we’ve always done it, so it must be right.”

Next Lord’s Day we begin a gospel meeting with Scott Finley who preaches regularly for the West Avenue church in San Antonio.  I have known Scott for close to twenty-five years and I know that he will bring timely and accurate lessons from the word of God.  It will, undoubtedly, take some sacrifice for you to take the time out of your busy schedule to be here each evening to hear Scott preach, but I’m certain it will be worth it. 

But it takes more than just being here.  It requires effort to study, meditate and reflect on the Scriptures together as we, “Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).  

                                                                                      -- Clark Dugger

The Proclaimer