For His Good Pleasure

Ephesians 1:6-10, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”

I don’t know if you ever have seen a picture of what man imagines God to look like but it usually is an old, grey-haired, muscle-bound man how is stoic without emotion. (My bible says Gd is a Spirit and no man has seen him so this is just the imagination of men).

Movies sometimes have given this same non-emotion to our savior Jesus Christ so is probably why I don’t take time to watch them for we are created in His image, Revelations 4:10-11, “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

“Pleasure?” you mean God, Jesus, had emotions, ahh yes, yes, yes!

Philippians 2:12-13, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

We are created by Him and for Him, we are created with emotions just like our creator and we are to continue to walk in good works. Not to earn our salvation but because we love Him and desire to serve Him with all our heart.

That’s hard! John 15:4-5, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

In our yard and around us we have a abundance of wild black raspberries growing in which I pick several gallons of each year we have lived here. Its not the easiest thing for its usually during the hottest weeks of the year and can take at least two hours to pick that amount. Thorns also are part of the raspberry plant and I also find the best fruit is found among the tallest and thickest of these. I have been cut by these thorns and been tripped up by the vines that grow among. But this never stops me for I always push forward because of the pleasure of canning several jars of jam from each batch I pick.

Life is similar to this as we have to endure what this world piles on us, but we know of the prize to come and our desire to be with our savior forever out weighs the sufferings of this world.

Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus did this for me so I will do this for him! Hebrews 13:15-16, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

Picture care of: Youtube