A Pleasure of the Lord by Michael Martinez
“The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy” Psalm 147:11
The Lord is a creator who created so that His creation would have all that a merciful, compassionate God can give. Yes, unfortunately we are born with a sinful nature because of sin that entered into His creation from Adam and Eve. Due to a created angel named Lucifer (satan) who was the morning star yet was able to have thought. A thought of pride, that he could be better than his creator, be higher and above God. He deceived Adam and Eve, who brought the first murder case in Cain and started the process of sinful ways.
With all this being known by God it was all part of His big plan, God is in control and of course we can ask all the questions to why He did this and allow all this as I am too part of it. Perhaps in the end we can have all these questions answered and more but if we are not born again of the Holy Spirit and abiding in Jesus Christ then we can never ask them. Because apart from Jesus Christ you are in unforgiving sin, you are separated from the one who has the truth. For now the created Lucifer who is now the enemy of God and is the evil one, the devil, satan can cause people to doubt and be deceived into thinking they do not need a savior, deceive them into a false hope.
The bible says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” 1 Cor 1:18. Satan intends to keep the truth of the gospel, the message of the cross from people. In addition, those who are saved he intends to thwart the message so that a saved person might take comfort in just being saved and not reaching others who need to ear. They become incapable of taking the message of the cross to all who might be perishing. See, God allows us to be saved and take part in His redemptive plan and gives us the strength, wisdom and understanding to fulfill this task. Our pleasure will be in Christ and we will know true peace, true happiness whether in trials, in persecutions or not.
We as Christians are going to perish as well as the unbeliever yet our perishing will be as the bible teaches, apart from the body, we will be present with Lord (2 Cor 5:8). What is the opposite of that? “Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day: 2 Cor 4:16. “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” 2 Cor 2:15.
He will raise His believers up to be with Jesus Christ just as He raised the Lord. The bible gives us a promise in 2 Cor 4 verse 14 “knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.”
The Lord wants you to come to repentance so that you will have forgiveness in Him who is the only one that can give forgiveness, because apart from Him you can do nothing and are still in your sinful ways, the bible teaches. A promise in 2 Peter 3 verse 9 says. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” The Lord’s first pleasure is to see you become part of the family and be made righteous for His sake and by His mightiness, “For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish” Ps 1:6. As a Christian we tend to get busy in many things and have no time for the Lord, even busy in things we think are bringing great pleasure to the Lord. Yet in many ways the things you do are good and bring glory to God, but can take your focus off a greater pleasure of the Lord’s and that is being intimate with Him and His word.
Knowing His mercies, His compassion, His truth, and taking this to those who really need to hear about it. God can do all things without us but takes pleasure by included His children in the plan and joy of watching another come to repentance. Watching someone pulled from the pit of fire to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and be on a firm foundation. You can have life and life more abundantly here on earth and have all in Christ Jesus when He is ready to take you home, all in His perfect timing.
So allow the Lord to mold you and transform you so that you would know how to have a reverence for the Lord and His attributes or as the bible says, “Fear Him”. So that you may enjoy hoping in the things the bible speaks of and His promise of Eternal Salvation. Bringing pleasure to the Lord not because you have to but because the Holy Spirit is alive in you and working through you will bring you great joy and peace.
May God bless you and keep you under His mighty truths.
Read Matthew 8:24-26
Copyright© 2004-2006 GLPM – All Rights Reserved – Michael J. Martinez 07/27/06
Copyright © by Access Christian All Right Reserved.
Published on: 12/02/06
Copyright © by Access Christian All Right Reserved. Published on: 2006-12-02 (8927 reads) [ Go Back ]
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