Watch Me, Jesus, and You Will Be Proud!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Dear Fellow Travelers,
Why is it so difficult for us to realize that we simply cannot please God, try as we might? Maybe it is because most church-goers have been thoroughly taught that it is their responsibility to live in such a manner, as to please God. To be sure, they have been given the list of things to do and to avoid doing that make pleasing Him possible. Of course, this list varies according to the paradigm out of which the teacher teaches. Admittedly, to the casual onlooker, this sounds both reasonable and feasible, even honorable. Sadly, I know many long-time Christians who have spent their entire Christian lives striving to do the “right” things and avoid the “wrong” things, in order to please God. Most even believe they are doing a pretty good job at it! Really!
Sadly, a “pretty good job” is not nearly good enough, not even close; in fact, it doesn’t even warrant a second glance from God! First runner-up is simply a loser according to God’s system of record keeping; it makes no positive impression on Him whatsoever. I might add, Jesus never did appreciate self-righteousness (which is exactly what our attempts at pleasing God are!). Please allow me to set the record straight: God’s standard is perfection, and nothing short of that is acceptable—never has been, never will be! “There-fore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48; NASB). Remember? The Lamb had to be without even so much as a blemish! So, if you think you are going to please God by your behavior, you might do well to remember His standard.
If this is your mission, you are in good company, as this is precisely what Israel had in mind. “And all the people answered together and said, ‘All that the Lord has spoken we will do’” (Exodus 19:8; NASB)! If you have any knowledge of the Scriptures at all, you know the rest of that story! Actually, the Pharisees were pretty good at doing what these Jews promised, but as you know, they flunked the test—miserably (read Matthew 23!). Paul said this about himself: “. . . as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless” (Philippians 3:6; NASB; emphasis mine). Hey, that is “perfect,” BUT it is perfect self-righteousness, which in God’s view is as offensive as a woman’s dirty menstrual rag (strange how we seem to adore what He finds offensive)! Listen to Paul’s next statement: “But whatever was gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ” (vs. 7). Hmmmm . . . that sucks, well it does for those who think they are doing a good job.
To add insult to injury (obviously, without us knowing it!), Jesus came along and said this: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35; NASB). As if that were not enough, He also said, “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you” (John 15:12; NASB; emphasis added). And we came along, read this, and said, “Wow! This simplifies everything; I can do this! Now, I can please God! Hallelujah! Watch me, Jesus, and you will be proud!”
As you might imagine, Jesus didn’t stop with this; instead, He continued with these encouraging, warm, fuzzy, creative words: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for His friends. You are My friends, IF you do what I command you” (John 15:13-14; NASB, emphasis mine). Love others, as He loves us? I do not think so! Not even close! Honestly, now, unless you are a narcissist, you have to admit that being Jesus’ friend “ain’t no piece of cake”; in fact, it is completely out of our reach!
The fact is this: we desperately need a Savior, aka Jesus! Without embracing His finished work, we do not have a snow ball’s chance in hell (pun intended!).
In the end, Christianity is not about our bragging on ourselves; instead, it is altogether about bragging on Jesus—the author and finisher of our faith! Go ahead and GET OVER YOURSELF!
Listen up! If you have been born of the Spirit of God (His doing, not yours!), then you are already pleasing Him, not because of what you might do, or might not do for that matter, but because of what He has done for you! God takes great pleasure in Jesus, not because of what He does or does not do, but because He is His Son, the One in whom He is well-pleased!
Please, stop talking about what you are doing for Him, and, instead, talk about what He has done for you!