Tag: pleasure

December 27 – With Repentance Comes Forgiveness

“Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?” – Ezekiel 33:11 (ESV)

Although often misunderstood therefore rejected by many, there is a consequence to inaction regarding our eternal state. A careful reading of our Scriptures reveals the consequences of no repentance due to unbelief. The Lord God declares that He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Why? Because God knows that death for those who reject God’s offer of salvation by His grace through faith in Jesus means an eternity separated from God and all others. So the Lord calls for all to a repentance of sin. Repentance is an act of turning around and away from the ways which lead to eternal death and receive from God the free gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).  The Israelites who were exiled to Babylon had lost hope and reasoned that if they were liable to death in judgment that was inevitable, they were in a hopeless condition and had no future. God replied that He had no pleasure in seeing the wicked go into death for their sin, but desires them to repent and live. This is true of all God has called (2 Peter 3:9). He calls us to “Repent and be saved!” for there is no other way.

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July 12 – Our Will, His Will, One Will


“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” – Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)

The question of our will – some refer to as “free will” but that is not exactly correct in the way most think free will is. We struggle to make our will and God’s will one and the same with each other. When our will agrees with God we find within our natural selves a disposition which leaves us incapable on our own to do what we know we ought to do (Romans 7:15-25). God saves us by His grace through the atonement of Jesus; He does the work in us so that it becomes our will to do for His good pleasure; but we have to work out that salvation in practical living. We have to work out with deliberation and attention what God works in; we are not to work for own salvation, but, allowing the proper result we work it out through life practice. With undaunted faith in the complete and perfect work of the Lord for our Salvation God’s will becomes our will. We must avoid bringing an opposing will to God’s will. God’s will brings our natural desires and choices in line with His will, and the life is as natural as breathing.

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July 12 – Our Will, His Will, One Will


“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” – Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)

The question of our will – some refer to as “free will” but that is not exactly correct in the way most think free will is. We struggle to make our will and God’s will one and the same with each other. When our will agrees with God we find within our natural selves a disposition which leaves us incapable on our own to do what we know we ought to do (Romans 7:15-25). God saves us by His grace through the atonement of Jesus; He does the work in us so that it becomes our will to do for His good pleasure; but we have to work out that salvation in practical living. We have to work out with deliberation and attention what God works in; we are not to work for own salvation, but, allowing the proper result we work it out through life practice. With undaunted faith in the complete and perfect work of the Lord for our Salvation God’s will becomes our will. We must avoid bringing an opposing will to God’s will. God’s will brings our natural desires and choices in line with His will, and the life is as natural as breathing.

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May 5 – Taking Pleasure In Us


“He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” Psalm 18:19 (NIV)

Being in that spot between a rock and a hard place is not comfortable. Sometimes those predicaments lead to circumstances that are more than just not pleasant. Generally it is dark in those places as far as our trying to find an easy way out. Whether it is our job, our relationships, even a lack of job or resources these might happen in the bright of day but in our hearts we don’t perceive them so well. Many of the songs in the Bible were composed by Shephard and King David. Some are prayers when David had special need of divine help. Some are songs of praise. In this verse David praises God for delivering him from his enemies and rescuing him out of a tight spot. The words reveal a very special relationship between God and His servant. In Psalm 18 David sensed that God was happy about him, that He really loved him and was pleased with him. He wrote “God was delighted. This same relationship can be ours, too. He loves us and He is delighted when we trust Him wholly and faithfully. Let’s do that today, no matter what “spots” we find ourselves in.

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