JOHN 8:28-30 – So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
THEME OF THE DAY. THE SINCERITY OF CHRISTIANITY. In today’s scripture, Jesus is engaged in an animated dialogue with the religious crowd of His day. Spend time soon to observe its unfolding. What a contrast between the eternal wisdom in the Godman and the foolishness of men, even religious men. In the midst of the conversation, the Lord says something worthy of us to pause, and apply. It is today’s scripture and the latter part of the last sentence . . . “For I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” Does this not cause us to think upon, then adore, and worship the Lord and His steadfast resolve to “always do what pleases the Father”? Now take that into our daily lives . . .
First, we readily confess only the Lord Jesus could use the word “always” when it comes to living out perfect obedience to His Father. However, let’s not give ourselves a pass by saying, “I cannot do that. I am not Jesus. I fail. I sin. I stumble.” Those things are true, but it doesn’t remove the truth, even expectation from our God, that we would pursue what His Son lived – a life always pleasing to Him. And please don’t be discouraged over our many times of falling short of God’s expectations because what He expects of His children, He provides the necessary grace to pick us up when we fail, and keep on, keeping on. But here is the lesson today . . . though we may not be able to look to heaven, like Jesus, and say, “I always do what pleases You”, we can look heavenly and proclaim, “I am always striving to sincerely do what pleases You.” Let’s explore this liberating truth.
Christians may not be able to always live out perfect obedience to God’s commands, but they can always live out sincere obedience to God’s commands. And the way to do this is to live in the state of prayerful communion with the Lord. Talk to Him throughout the day, and talk to Him about issues of the heart. It will keep us sensitive and sincere. For instance, we wake up on a Sunday morning. It is has been a long week. We would love to just stay in bed, but it is the Lord’s Day, so we drag ourselves out of bed, get ready for church with our bodies with our hearts far away. Right then, we have a choice; always do what pleases Him or simply do what pleases us. When that situation occurs, not just with church, but in any area of obedience and we struggle with the right heart, immediately pray something like this, “Lord, You know my heart. I don’t feel like going to church. I really don’t want to, but I want to obey and please You. As I go, work in my heart sincerity and right motives.” Without fail, if we live in this spiritual awareness and dependency, we will “always do what pleases Him”, not perfect in action, but perfect in sincerity.
Someday, we will always do what pleases Him, but that day will not come in this life. However, we can be sincere before the Lord in this life. Let’s find ourselves striving for sincere obedience and thus produce a life that honors Him, not by perfect obedience, but with a sincere heart.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to have one single motivator in all I do and say – to please You.”
QUOTE: “Live only for the pleasure of God and we will walk with deeper joy, greater peace, and more influence for Christ.”