Somuch within the New Testamentepistles is mistakenly thoughttobe addressed to the unbeliever, when it is written to Christians. Hebrews is an example of Scripture that gives maturing believers guidance on how to live by faith - how to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. While the first, obvious step in pleasing God is to get saved by believing in the redeeming work of Christ, it is the ongoing, living faith of a believer that pleases God, in the day by day exercise of life.
Only a believer can please God. We please God when we are justified (initial salvation), but we also please God through a sanctified life (ongoing salvation). It is ONLY through Christ's imputed righteousness can we please God, "for without faith it is impossible to please Him." But once we are saved we are to please Him by living by faith. Once we have believed in Him we are to, "believe that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."Having been saved through justifying faith, believers are to continue to trust Him, by believing His Word, living by faith, and diligently seeking His face day by day.
Once we have believed in God's saving grace through faith in Christ, we are also to believe that, "He rewards those that seek Him," as stated in Scripture. There is rejoicing in heaven when a sinner believes, but we trulyplease Him when we LIVE by faith. We please Him when we are not being influenced by life's problematic circ*mstances. If we desire to please our Heavenly Father, we are to LIVE by faith and not by sight.
Too often, those who started their Christian life by faith, stop relying on the truth of Scripture. They take their eyes off Jesus and start todoubt God's Word. They often become careless in seeking the Lord, and some even leave their first love. There are some who revert to carnality, indulging in fleshly living. Some try to please God through good deeds and worldly works. There are others who adopt legalism and perform works of the law for God's approval.
Christians who try to live in their own strength or rely on their own good works do not please the Lord, because they are not trusting His Word - for faith is the evidence of things NOT seen. Faith in God's Word is whatpleases Him. We please Him when we are saved, but we are to please Him throughout our Christian life, by believing His promises are true and by believing He rewards those who seek Him - by faith.
Although our union with God can never be brokenonce we are born into His family, our fellowship with him canbebroken when we leave the life of trusting God and dependence on His Word and start torely on our own strength. God knows that without Christ's leading and guiding, we will eventually fail for He said, "without Me ye can do nothing."But all too often we try every conceivable avenue before weeventually have to admit our inability and seek His help.
Too often we forget that those whodiligently seek Him, are rewarded with His sufficient grace to face life's problems. Those who diligently seek Him, produce the beautiful fruit of the Spirit, so thatthey grow in grace and mature in the faith, which pleases our Heavenly Father. When we rest in His sufficient strength, we always discover it is all we need, but how often we forgo the perfect peace He promises,simplybecause we trusted in self before our Saviour, or lived in accordance with what we see rather that what God says.
Themore a Christian trusts God's Word, believes all He says, has faith in His promises, believes He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek to know Him, the more they will grow in grace, mature in the faith, walk in spirit and truth and please Him - for to the one that has much, even more will be given.
Let us determine to live our Christian lives in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord, as we earnestly seek Him and trust in His Word. Let us maintain our faith in God and never doubt the veracity of the Gospel message, even when His truth is shrouded from our eyes, or when the reality of His Word does not reflect our life-experience, "for without faith it is impossible to please Him."
Let us trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding, knowing that without saving faith and sanctifying faith, it is impossible to please Him. But let us never forget that it is God Who said, I AM everything you need, I AM a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Me.
Let us remember that Jesus said, "I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life... I will never leave you nor forsake you... I go to prepare a place for you... I will return and take you to be with Me, that where I am, you may be also."
Let us believe all that God has promised with our whole heart, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.
Heavenly Father, I realise how quickly and easily I can move from trusting You to doubting Your Word, when things do not go the way that I expect. I pray that like the men and women of faith in Hebrews, my trust in You will not falter. Help me to earnestly seek You day by day, for I know that only as Christ lives in and through me, by faith, can I be pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
