“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Heb 11:6 (NIV) Pleasing the Creator of the universe seems impossible. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. God is holy, perfect, immutable, and eternal. God is infinite. How can finite man please God? The vital ingredient to pleasing God is faith. This type of faith is the conviction that God is who He says He is. To live a life pleasing to God, you must operate in faith. The focus of your life becomes God’s agenda. You demonstrate belief in God’s existence by fearing Him and revering Him through a lifestyle of obedience. Choose to come to God knowing that He desires intimacy with you. As a child of God, you have the distinct privilege of knowing that God rewards you as you seek Him earnestly. God rewards you with abiding peace, continual fellowship, and eternal hope. Is your life pleasing to God? Is faith operative in your conversation and your conduct? Portray your conviction about the truth of God’s nature and character. God has pursued you with His love. Respond to God’s pursuit by living a life of faith that brings pleasure to Him. Determine to please God through behavior that is consistent with His Word. Ask God to reveal those areas of your life that are out of alignment with His purpose and plan. As God brings those specific areas to your attention, choose to repent and go in a new direction. Remove those things in your life that rob your love relationship with God. Put your faith in action. Remember, without faith it is impossible to please God! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Category: Impossible
Impossible
It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven. God is perfect; we are imperfect. God is righteous; we are unrighteous. God is pure; we are impure. God is sinless; we are sinful. God is flawless; we are flawed. “Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished…” Ex 34:7 (NIV) “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64:6 (NIV) “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 (NIV) Read the next verse and see if you can identify why it is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven. “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV) God is holy; we are not. So how can a person enter heaven, where God allows no sin? This creates a tremendous dilemma. How can anyone go to heaven? Our fallen nature disqualifies us. We are not fit for heaven. In and of ourselves, we are insufficient to meet the requirements for entrance into heaven. Have you come to the end of yourself? Have you realized that you cannot go to heaven based on your own righteous deeds? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care