Bible Reading: Exodus 26; Proverbs 2; John 5; Galatians 1
Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
When Paul preached, he was not trying to persuade God, he was trying to persuade men! Preaching is meant to persuade men to believe God and his word.
Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Paul preached to persuade men and please God. Not the other way around. If we try to persuade God, we are in trouble because he already knows the truth. He is not in error that he should be persuaded. If we try to please men, we are in trouble. The Bible says:
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
If we seek to please men we will fall into a trap. We must choose. Will be try to please men and persuade God that our lifestyle is OK? Or will be please God and live to persuade men? There is all the difference in the world in these two positions. The man pleaser will always compromise his position with God. You cannot please both. Here the Bible tells us that if you live to please men, you cannot be the servant of Christ. You have to choose. Who will you live to please? Jesus said it like this:
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
As the servant of Christ, you and I must live in a way that is pleasing to him. It pleases him when we persuade men!
2 Corinthians 5:9-11 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
Who will you live to please? Will you serve Christ or men? I pray that you will live to please God and persuade men!
In Christ,
Rody
