Strive to please God, not people

Inemesit Udodiong 10:40 - 30 August 2016

Daily Devotional

1 Thessalonians 2:4 - "On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts."

As children, we are raised to be respectful, nice, courteous, in other words, please people, including our parents, usually at the our own expense.

Growing up with this mentality can become a struggle, when you get to a point, where you have to pick a side, God or your parents, society, friends, and so on.

Today, the Bible is telling us to always chose to please God, rather than others.

ALSO READ: 10 Bible verses to help you with fear, temptations, hardships

In Luke 2:41-52, Jesus, as a young boy (he was only 12 years old), was faced with a hard choice, to please God, by remaining at the temple or going home to Nazareth with his parents.

He chose to stay, which caused a lot of worry for his parents, unfortunately, who searched for him for three days.

"After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them," Vs 46 -50.

As an adult or a growing child, there will be times when you may have a conflict of interest, to please your parents/ friends/ family or God, your creator.

God wants you to know that pleasing your maker should be your priority, because the rewards outweigh the hurt and pain.