Power to Please God

Chuckle: When I am passing by a church I always stop to visit, so that when I'm carried in the Lord won't say, "Who is it?"

Quote: "The world at its worst needs the church at its best." --Unknown source

"God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT).

Has God given you a deep desire to serve Him each day? Are you constantly seeking opportunities to serve Him by serving others? Or are you content to go through the motions of being a Christian? Does going to church each week satisfy your desire to serve God, or does powerful life-changing worship cause you to follow-up by reaching out in love to others in the name of Jesus at every opportunity during the week? Is Christianity a one-day or a seven-day a week proposition for you? Do your Christian values dictate the way you live and relate to others each day?

Right now, you may be saying, "OK, Jerry, you have stopped preaching and gone to meddling!" Maybe so. But I want you to know these questions are as much for me as for you. I think you will agree that the answers to these and similar questions are critical for pleasing our Lord.

I pray you have a deep desire to serve your Lord each and every day. If you do, our passage says God working in you -- He has given you that desire. These desires can only come from your love relationship with God through Christ. Out of gratitude for your own salvation, you may have a desire to see others come to Christ.

You may sense God's call for you to live for Him more fully. All of these feelings come from God's Spirit working within you. I think many sense the call of God to serve Him, but are afraid to step out in faith and begin their unique type of service and ministry. It doesn't matter if you're strong, talented, smart, or good-looking, God has an area of service for which He has gifted you, and He will empower you with all you need to serve Him and please Him.

Please ignore any weaknesses you may think you have that limit what you can do for your Lord. It's in through our weaknesses that God's strength is magnified. Through His Spirit, you will receive everything you need to do great things for Him. You may have heard, "God is not interested in your ability, but your availability." "God does not call the strong, but strengthens the called."

Never doubt that you can have a great impact for your Lord if you will only take that first step and Let Him guide you and empower you. Notice our passage again: "God (Holy Spirit) is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him"

Love, Jerry & Dotse