Pleasing God

DEVOTION
1 THESSALONIANS
PLEASING GOD

1 Thess 2:3-6
3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed — God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. NIV
If it is one thing I am sure of is I certainly am not in the business of pleasing people. I think I have rubbed many people the wrong way throughout my life. I think I have even stepped on a few toes when it comes to telling the truth of the message from the Word of God. I think the greatest trouble or opposition I face even with fellow believers is over money. I do not think I preach, teach or write about the truth of God with any impure motive. I do not desire a great following of people. I am not trying to trick people into some false doctrine or do I speak word which please their ears and thus entice them into thinking well of me and give me their approval as a great orator of the Word of God. I do not even desire their well intended ordinations for that to me are nothing more than a man pleasing device. I have even been told those ordinations would give me credibility among men. Is that not simply pleasing men? I think so. I believe I speak as one approved by God as well. God is the one who has called me, and opened all the doors before me. He is the one who has given me the words. He is the one who has developed within me the desire to speak his truth. If it were up to me alone I would hide myself away from people. But I cannot do this because I must please God. I must be about the task he has prepared for me. I must obey the calling he has on my life. I am not sure how well the message I speak sits with people’s hearts but that is not my concern. Oh yes I am concerned about them. I care their understanding the truth of God. But I cannot speak words which please them; I must speak the truth which pleases God. People might think of me as either a good man or maybe as not so good a man, but God is the one who knows my heart, he tests or approves my heart. It is for certain I do not speak any words about the Gods word with greed in my heart so I need not even try to cover that up. All I desire is to be true to what God has called me to do no matter what anyone might think. I surely believe I am firm about this. I will stand my ground. I desire to please only God.