If we care about someone, we’ll try to please him or her with our choices.
We do this for family members.
We do this for friends.
We do this for employers who provide the paycheck we need.
We certainly do this for ourselves.
But what about the Lord?
I’m grateful for the six-word reminder in Paul’s letter to the Ephesian Christians:
“Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:10)
Notice that Paul doesn’t simply say, “Don’t sin.”
Instead, the apostle calls believers to do their homework.
“Determine” implies discernment between possible choices.
“Carefully” means being thorough and purposeful in order to avoid careless oversights.
How do we carefully determine what pleases the Lord?
We read the Bible. Hopefully daily as with resources like the One-Year Bible online.
We discuss our findings with mature believers.
We pray for understanding and wisdom.
We examine successful — and unsuccessful — choices made by ourselves and others.
We listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit to guide us and to give us peace about a particular decision or direction.
And then we assess the outcomes of our choices.
Did good for the Kingdom result?
Did good for others result?
Did our choices honor God and strengthen our Christian influence with others?
It’s all about pleasing the Lord.
We focus on that and God will take care of us.
That’s the promise of Matthew 6:33 — Seek God’s Kingdom first and He’ll take care of us.
Live to please the Lord, my friend.
And listen to His Word and His voice and His saints in order to do this more often.
I will do the same.
As always, I love you
Martin
