PLEASING GOD... Sunday

Devotional for 10/12/14

When we do good works, what does God see?

Without faith, God does not accept anything that people do as pleasing. Someone can be the greatest person on earth in the eyes of other human beings, but if they have no faith, their works are dead in God's eyes.  We may look good to others, but are only clothed in filthy rags before God.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.  Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.  Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)

But when we serve God in faith and offer our love and forgiveness to others just as Jesus has done for us, God sees us through Christ-colored glasses.  Jesus' sacrifice of his life on the cross in our place is a pleasing offering to God.  When we believe in Jesus as our Savior, that he paid the price for our sins, then we are no longer seen by God as clothed in rags but rather as wearing white robes of righteousness - the robe of Christ.

Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  Isaiah 61:10 (NIV)

written by 
Jan Andersen