But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 1 Corinthians 10:5
Having a leader or employer that is pleased is the desire for most people. It means that they are doing what is right and their position is secure. When a leader is not pleased, people are reprimanded or relieved of their positions and duties. Someone else is put in that place. In order to have a leader pleased, one must do what is expected and do it in the correct manner and timing.
Paul reminds the Corinthians about how their ancestors were led by Moses into the wilderness. Most of those being led did not please God and died in the wilderness.
Pleasing self is the number one priority of the majority of people in the world. They are focused on how to enjoy life to the fullest, even at the expense of others and themselves. Everything is all about the moment, with no regard for the future. As they please themselves, people will fall into greater and greater sin and walk further away from God.
This is a problem that occurs even inside the church. People, who claim to believe in and follow Jesus, can also choose to please themselves rather than God. It can occur while being very active in church ministry, putting oneself up on a pedestal, rather than lifting Christ up.
Believers are to live their lives with the focus of pleasing God, and doing what He wants. Living this way is not to be done in order to gain salvation, but to be done out of love for what Christ has done for them. The consequence of not living to please God, not living as He commands, is that one will lose life in the end and be cast out as though God never knew the person.
Going through life it is easy for you to want to focus on yourself and please yourself. While this may feel good for the moment, it will only lead to death in the end. Turn your focus upon pleasing God with your whole life, everything you think, say, and do. Obey God’s commands and directions to you. Do this out of love for Him for removing your sins and giving you life. Do not find your body being scattered dead in the wilderness of this world.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know what pleases God; that you will do what pleases God; and that God will not have to scatter your body in the wilderness for not living for Him.
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This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Insights from Tom
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