Sunday writing... 2-23-20... "PLEASED"

Good morning!

One week ago a dear friend and co-writer on our blog passed away.  I dedicate today's writing, "PLEASED," to her and to all the saints who have gone on before us to be with the Lord.  To Karen Bennett - "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Blessings,
Jan

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Today's Devotional: 

"PLEASED"

by

Jan Andersen

Being pleased with someone means we are happy or appreciative of them, contented.  We might be pleased with something they did or said, or how they have treated us.  But being well-pleased goes beyond that, including being highly gratified or delighted with them.  

What do we do when we want to be the one who pleases someone else?  We might try to be on our best behavior, find out what they like and provide that, be there for them when needed and so forth.  It is hard to be on top of our game all of the time, and we are bound to fail to please them at some point.  Besides, people-pleasing habitually is not a healthy thing!  People-pleasers often do so because of self-worth issues.  Those with low self esteem seek to get approval from others in this way, even if it is at their own expense.  

It would be healthier to be concerned about pleasing God.  How do we satisfy our perfect, all-knowing God, who sees everything we do and even knows everything we just think about in our heads?  And if He knows all the things we think, say or do - the good, the bad and the ugly - how can we possibly please Him when He demands perfection, because He is completely righteous and just?

Thankfully we have a Savior who fulfilled that requirement of perfection for us.  He lived the perfect life for us and pleased God the Father fully.  God even said how well-pleased He was with his Son, both at the baptism of Jesus and at his transfiguration (which we celebrate in church today.)

Matthew 17:5  …a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased…”

God the Father took great pleasure in his Son.  It is only because of Jesus that we can ever hope to please God.  Without faith in Jesus, nothing we do would be acceptable to God. (see Hebrews 11:6)  Someone could be the greatest, kindest, most loving person on earth in human terms, but if all that is done without faith, their works are dead in God’s eyes.  Only through faith can we offer our lives as a living sacrifice to Him, doing good works that please Him.  God sees his faithful people through his Jesus-filter!  Then when we die in faith, we are given eternal life in heaven and will hear God say, “Well done good and faithful servant.  With you I am well pleased!”

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for sending your Son with whom you are well pleased.  Help us remain faithful so that we can also hear you say in the end, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  May our works be pleasing in your sight as we share your love with the world.  In Jesus name,  Amen.       

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Song:

WELL PLEASED

Gloria Fanchiang

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Prayers are lifted up daily for you by the Devotional Writers and the Monthly Writing Staff of Women's Focus Ministries

Blog Writers

Sandy Billingham, Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward, 

Amie Spruiell, Lynda Kinnard, Bre Miller

Debbie Rodriguez, Carol Steficek, Cathy Friberg

Jan Andersen and Corinne Mustafa

Karen Bennett

2/16/20

R.I.P.