Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Hebrews 11:6
Struggles.
Have you ever felt that pleasing God seemed just a bit out of reach? The Apostle Paul would emphatically answer “yes.” In Romans 7:15, the apostle admitted,
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”
Paul readily admits the impulses of the carnal nature that battle against the will of the renewed man. But Paul also does not speak of some gross life of moral neglect, for He was renewed by the power of Jesus Christ. What he does speak of are the internal struggles that plague every follower of Jesus: the internal promptings of the flesh that desire what is contrary to Christ. And, to this Paul considered himself crucified; yet he admits the presence of the struggle. Paul would later openly recognize the struggle with his cry, “who will save me from this body of death?” And, immediately he turns to the truth that overcomes all struggles: “thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:24-25)
The only response!
Faith in Jesus Christ becomes the answer to the struggles Paul described. So, when the struggles persist with you, rest in faith. Without such faith, no one can please God. Do not succumb to the struggle. Do not fall to the impulses of the flesh. Cry out to Jesus, even in those micro-moments when the flesh becomes weak. This is how one truly practices faith, for to truly believe that Jesus Christ is our resurrected Savior and Lord is to truly act upon that belief with clear convictions.
Cry out to Him. He answers. He honors such faith. He is pleased with such faith.
Your move!
It is not easy waiting on God. It is not easy daily surrendering to Him. It is not easy believing that God has your life under control. But He does! So, trust Him. Strive to keep your faith at the forefront of your life. When the impulses of the flesh cause you to respond counter to the truth of Jesus, cry out to Him in total dependence. You will be amazed at how clearly God answers those cries. Will the struggles ever fully diminish in this life? That is certainly not promised. But what is promised is the faithfulness of God every moment of every day. Jeremiah declared that God’s mercies are new every morning with the powerful reminder, “great is Thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23).
It is indeed impossible to genuinely please God without faith. But you have every reason to trust in God. And remember, “mustard seed” faith moves mountains (Matthew 17:20). So, what are you waiting for? Put your trust in Him.
Today, resolve to be a person of faith – not in theory, but in practice. And why? Because He is faithful.
Blessings.
