Something came up recently, and these words, “I want to do things right before the Lord,” sparked these thoughts:
Those words sound like if we please the Lord, things will go well for us. While that is true, it could also be false, depending on the understanding and motive. We aren’t here to be sycophants or pleasers. We are so prone to please, this being a very selfish thing indeed. Primarily, we seek to please people, so we’ll be accepted by them or benefitted somehow.
We then presume to do the same with God, like Cain did. He was a pleaser! And where did it get him? Abel didn’t bring a sacrifice to please God. He brought it because he knew it was right. Had his sacrifice been rejected, he wouldn’t have felt badly, as did Cain. He would have sought for the right way (of course, the reason his sacrifice was accepted was because his heart was right, and therefore he could not but be accepted). However, Cain was offended: “Well, if that’s the thanks I get, phooey on God! I won’t believe in Him anymore!” We have heard that many times.
We are called to do right because it is right, whether pleasing to anyone or not. We are here to choose the successful and true right, the one and only kind of right there is, and not what we ignorantly and foolishly imagine and choose to be right, in that it is selfishly advantageous. Choosing right, things will go well for us. Choosing to please, we destroy those we pretend to please (not that we can destroy God, of course, but we grieve Him), and we destroy ourselves.
God isn’t asking us to please Him. Where in the Bible does one find God wanting us to please Him? It isn’t there! Did you know? He isn’t primarily interested in His own welfare and feelings. He wants to see things go well for us, and He has shown, and is showing, us how that can and must be because He cares for us.
God is called “Love” because He cares about us over Himself. That is the nature of true love. When we do right and things go well for us, then He’ll be pleased. He’ll be satisfied because we are fulfilled and satisfied in reality, by His satisfaction and not by the destructive, blind-alley kind of satisfaction that comes out of self-serving lack of knowledge and understanding.
Victor Hafichuk
– April 17, 2011
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From: Deniese To: The Path of Truth Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2016 5:09 PM Subject: Funerals Hi, I have been reading your website. I am on the Journey of obedience to Jesus Christ. I have a question. Should a follower of Jesus attend funerals of loved ones who are not saved or people people in the so called "church"? My husband , children and I stopped going to church a few months ago. We are studying the scriptures and for the 1st time walking in obedience. A pastor from an old Church died suddenly a few days ago, my husband wants to go to the memorial service tomorrow to pay respects to the family, I don't want to go. I'm not sure if I'm right. He says then if your mother or father dies, and if they die without salvation are we not to go to there funeral? For some reason, I don't think we should be going to funerals of the unsaved. Even family. I want to please the Lord above all else, but I don't want to be in error anymore.. We have been so called saved for 15 years, but a year ago the Lord have been opening our eyes to deception. I'm tired now. I want the truth. Thank you. Follower of Christ, Deniese From: Deniese To: The Path of Truth Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2016 5:14 PM Subject: Weed Hi again, I am trying to tell my husband that a follower of Jesus should not smoke weed. Is it OK for a follower to smoke weed? My husband says its a herb and God gave all the herbs in the field and he can't find anything in the bible that s...
現在落在我們國家身上的一切都是因為到處都是罪惡和不信、罪孽和暴力。我們甚至以祂的名義把上帝趕出去 (罪上加罪)，現在祂已經受夠了我們的罪孽、自以為是、固執、傲慢、自負和叛逆。祂再不眨眼了。我們作為國家享有的自由，特別是在西方，也許尤其是在北美，已經成為歷史。
Subject: ‘Guess Who Appreciates Satan’ From: David To: The Path of Truth Date: 11/24/2015 1:42 PM Hi, I came across your website not by accident, chance or choice but by determination of seeking out an opinion that aligns closely to how I too view God's word. Although I've read many of your teachings, there is one so far that has stood out amongst them the title is "Guess who appreciates Satan" I have been seeing this for years but haven't been able to piece it together so I could show those that have eyes could also see it. So a big thank you for doing it. It also states in scripture (Gen 1:26) that God made man in the image and OUR likeness and this task wasn't completed until AFTER they ate the fruit, God confirms this in Gen 3:22 to which many followers miss. Gen 3:24 also shows us that there were others also in the garden as well and along with Gen 3:1 we can now piece together to whom God was referring to when he was talking about making man in the image and likeness of US. Anyway, this is a fantastic website for all to enjoy and learn. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, David from Brisbane, Australia. From: Paul Cohen Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2015 4:42 PM To: David Cc: Victor Hafichuk Subject: "Guess Who Appreciates Satan" Thank you, David, for letting us know you’re out there receiving some of the good things the Lord has given us at The Path of Truth. Bless His Name! Continue exploring what is available on our site – the...