By Melanie Rigney
… The people
complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die
in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this
wretched food!” (Numbers
21:5)
O
Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you. (Psalm 102:2)
(Jesus told the
Pharisees:) “The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because
I always do what is pleasing to him.” Because he spoke this way, many came to
believe in him. (John 8:29-30)
Piety
Lord, I know what is pleasing to You, but too often, I’d
rather do what brings me pleasure in the moment. Help me to discipline myself…
and obey.
Study
“Because I always do what is pleasing to him.”
I think about a recent day, and am all but ashamed to call myself a
Christian.
It started before dawn with grumbling and complaining. A couple of good
hours followed, then more complaining, seasoned with some sniping. A bit of
gossiping came next, and then some whining. Some service and joy ensued, but
they faded away in the face of judging, along with large dollops of crabbiness
and crankiness.
And after all that, I wondered why I felt so tired and drained at the
end of the day. It was plain as could be. I was a Pharisee. I was an Israelite.
I had spent large swathes of my day pushing the Lord away, doing what I wanted
in the moment rather than what I knew in my heart and soul would be pleasing to
Him.
We hear all the time about the two greatest commandments: Love God, and
love others as yourself. Great, challenging advice. But John reminds us today
why we should follow it: because it’s pleasing to the Father, and what could be
better than to please Him?
Action
Keep
a journal today of your thoughts, words, and actions that are less than
pleasing to the Lord. Resolve that tomorrow’s list will be shorter.
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