Live Only to Please God
The Bible is a life and death book that reveals who will eventually be saved and who will be destroyed in the judgment (Rev. 20:12). ℹ️ The Bible is the most sold book in the history of the world. It is the least read, and the least understood, book ever sold. It is a book of which more people have opinions about - people who don't even study or obey it - and yet they ridicule it and scoff at it. In spite of all this, it is the book which Jesus Christ says will judge all those who have lived in the world, to determine whether they shall be thrown into the lake of fire, or found worthy for eternal life.
ℹ️There are thousands of different faiths or beliefs in the world, but only those who do the Will of the Father in heaven will abide forever (1 John 2:17; Matt. 7:21). The Will represents the words of Jesus Christ (John 8:51). That is why Jesus said, “If anyone is willing to do His Will [the Will of God], he will know of the teaching [understand His teachings]” (John 7:17). We are not to be conformed to this world any longer, but rather we are to transform our lives to God by renewing our minds (Rom. 12:2). So we are not to remain foolish, but ℹ️understand what the Will of the Lord is and do that Will by performing it in our lives on a daily basis (Eph. 5:17). How? By proving what the Will of the Lord is ℹ️through studying God's word and finding out what is good, acceptable behavior and perfect in the sight of God, then performing only righteousness in Jesus Christ's name for the glory of the Father (Col. 3:17). We are all children of God—of our Father in heaven. Our Father wants to be shown daily respect from His children on earth. Jesus our Lord wants us to be good, by doing good and overcoming our evil natures by continually showing allegiance and respect to Him.
We are to continually discipline our ℹ️bodies, our ℹ️minds, our thoughts and our words, until they are all taken captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 10:5). In other words, we are to ℹ️discipline ourselves for the very purpose of godliness (1 Tim. 4:7). We are to practice deeds of kindness and charity continually, until Jesus Christ transforms our hearts and instills His perfect nature in us (Acts 9:36; Matt. 5:20; Eph. 6:6; Gal. 4:19). This is practicing righteousness before God, and this is true ℹ️repentance before God and man.
If you want to be a good athlete then you must practice diligently and persevere. You must know the rules of the game and practice them diligently. You can't really know the game unless you play the game. You must continually discipline yourself to play by the rules and not bend them.
How come millions in the world today do not know the rules, live by the rules, or adhere to the rules and the precepts of Jesus Christ? Not many even seem to care. How come so many call Jesus Christ Lord, and yet they do not do what He told them to do through the Bible (Luke 6:46)? Jesus Christ laid down His life for us, that we might lay down our old lives for Him and let Him live through our bodies. He can only do this when we live the Way of life as He did, by being servants to others in love. Just like the athlete, we must practice the Will of our Father in heaven to understand the teaching (John 7:17).
What is being said is certainly not hard to understand. It is only our hardened hearts that do not want to change, that makes the message hard. That is why God's word says to ℹ️ make yourself a new heart (Ezek. 18:31). Let Jesus Christ into your heart. He will help us make new hearts if we repent and obey Him and live our lives to please Him daily. Our Father wants the best for us and that is why He declares that His Ways are best. When we know His Ways and keep His Ways, then we are walking with God as Enoch, Noah and Abraham did.
There are two principle ways in which we obey God and keep His New Covenant. One is to practice ℹ️righteousness and the other is to practice justice. We must, however, know what these two words mean in the word of God (Psalm 33:5). The first, practicing righteousness, is not only helping the widow and the orphan in their affliction, but helping anyone who is in need (James 1:27). That means anyone who is in need of clothes, food, or a place to stay; anyone who is in need of cheering up, like people who are shut-ins. Visit the sick and go to the aid of anyone who has no helper. Always practice hospitality by having others over for dinner or lunch—especially the lame (Luke 14:13). These principles are not difficult, but you will have to force yourself and discipline yourself to do these things, for the Father in heaven, because human nature is selfish, uncaring, inconsistent and evil (Gen. 8:21; Psalm 51:5). You must discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness, so your old nature can die (1 Tim. 4:7; 6:3; Titus 1:1; 3:8; 2 Thess. 3:13).
The second principle, practicing ℹ️justice, means to be honest in all your dealings with men. Diligently pay others what you owe them. Use just (honest) weights and measures. Do not steal, murder, rape, commit fornication or adultery (1 Tim. 1:10; 1 Cor. 6:9-10), for these things are not doing unto your neighbor as you would have him do unto you. They do not glorify God but self, which is worldliness (Matt. 6:1). Be honest with your mouth. Speak only what is right and do only what is right. Do not overcharge people for rent (Amos 5:11). Do not underpay your employees, thereby oppressing them as wage earners (Mal. 3:5). Do not sue anyone without a just cause. Do not steal from the poor by financial trickery. Do not charge exorbitant interest (Ezek. 18:12-13).
Anyone who will practice these principles for God daily is certainly not God's enemy, but ℹ️God's friend (John 15:14).