When Jesus was on Earth,
He said, He that sent me is
with me: the Father hath not
left me alone; for I do always those
things that please him (John 8:29). Jesus
found great joy, strength and contentment in
pleasing the Father; and you can, too.
For even Christ pleased not himself; but,
as it is written, The reproaches disgraces
of them that reproached thee fell on me
(Romans 15:3). When you are walking hand
in hand with Jesus, you must be willing for
any reproach that falls on Christ and the work
of God to fall on you as well.
We are not on this Earth to please ourselves;
we are here to please the Father and become
His sons and daughters. But as many as
received him Jesus, to them gave he power
to become the sons or daughters of God,
even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
of God (John 1:12,13).
Pleasing the Father does not mean that nothing
will go wrong in your life. Sin brought
about the civilization we live in today, so bad
things will happen; but many people blame
God for those things and fail to give Him
credit for the good things. The Bible says,
Every good gift and every perfect gift is
from above, and cometh down from the
Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning (James
1:17).
You must glorify and praise God for all the
good things and know that He can take even
bad situations and make them good. And we
know that all things work together for good
to them that love God,
to them who are the
called according to his purpose
(Romans 8:28).
Persecution Will Come
You will suffer much in this life for Christ’s
sake, but you must praise the Father for every
trial and let Him work them out His way.
Paul did that; and he said, Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am
I strong (II Corinthians 12:10). When God’s
desires become your desires, you won’t be
afraid to set self aside and bear the reproaches
of the Lord.
Paul knew he was enduring all things for
the glory of God; and he did it gladly saying,
And I will very gladly spend and be spent
for you (II Corinthians 12:15). Paul also knew
that deliverance would always come. He told
Timothy, What persecutions I endured:
but out of them all the Lord delivered me
(II Timothy 3:11). He then told the Hebrews,
Cast not away therefore your confidence
in Christ, which hath great recompence of
reward. For ye have need of patience, that,
after ye have done the will of God, ye might
receive the promise (Hebrews 10:35,36).
Patience comes through enduring persecution;
and when you learn to use divine
patience, you can receive anything God has
promised you. Unfortunately, some people
talk about their troubles and sicknesses more
than they ever talk about deliverance, healings
or miracles; so they will never rise above
2