The Joy of Pleasing Christ

October 11, 2011 at 1:13 PM

As a young boy in Buffalo, New York, my grandparents lived in the upstairs apartment of the house I where I grew up. I have so many great memories of time shared with my grandfather. During football season, we would watch college football together on Saturday’s and the NFL on Sundays. I looked forward to spending time with my grandfather. I remember standing at my bedroom window watching him mow the lawn and thinking, “When I get old enough I hope grandpa asks me to mow the lawn with him.” Finally, the day came when he approached me and asked “Ron, would you like to mow the lawn with me?” Wow… a dream come true, so I responded with “You bet grandpa!” I was so excited, as he walked on the left side of mower and I on the right, both of us holding onto the handle, mowing the lawn together. Now I realize he was doing most of the work, but I was so excited that I could do something with him and feel like I was assisting him. Little did I know he was training me to be the future lawn mower of the Jutze household. Well, you guessed it, the day came when I was mowing the yard by myself. It became my responsibility, I felt such satisfaction, because I was contributing to the family and helping my grandfather. My joy was serving my grandpa; his plan all along was to train me for the task.


As a follower of Jesus, one of our deepest joys and greatest desires is to be used by God in serving His purpose on this earth. I am sure you have spent many a day at the window of your prayer closet asking God to use you to make a difference in your family, workplace, local church and world around you. Notice Psalm 40:8 says I take joy in doing your will, my God…NLT; ‘I enjoy pleasing you…CEV; I delight to do Your will, O my God, NKJ.

As a child of God, the joy of our heart is to please God, and to be used by Him to do His will. Jesus shared the same desire “My food (nourishment) is to do the will (pleasure) of Him, Who sent Me and to accomplish and completely finish His work.” John 4:34 AMP


God is doing a work in the earth today, and He very much desires and needs you to be an active part of that work. This work is fulfilling the plan of God through Jesus Christ. As you know, God is always watching over His word to fulfill it in the earth (Jer.1:12; Mark 16:19-20; Eph.1:11) and He has chosen His people as co-laborers in His work “We are workers together with God…” 2 Cor 6:1 NCV.   Just as my grandfather invited me to mow the lawn with him, Jesus is inviting you to work with Him in the work He is doing in the earth today. Our problem is that we overlook the simple tasks, while always looking for the sensational. We seem to think that if we are not the pastor of a large congregation, a missionary touching nations, a prosperous business person, giving hundreds of thousands of dollars for the work of Christ or have a popular TV show reaching millions of people that we are insignificant and not needed by God. Nothing could be further from the truth. While those serving in these capacities, are being used by God in their sphere of influence, these thoughts can rob of our joy, and cause you to feel unimportant and therefore not needed if you are not involved in one of them. This way of thinking is the planned strategy of your enemy, the devil, to keep you from the “needed” tasks of serving the will & pleasure of your Father. “You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.” Gal 5:7-8 NKJ


There was a day when Jesus asked two of his followers to do a common task, go get me a donkey. (Lk.19:29-35; Mt.21:1-6). He told them where to find it and how to answer if anyone asked them why or what they were doing “And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’”Lk.19:29-31(NKJ). Did you see that? The Lord has need of it. Do you know why Jesus had a need of that donkey? To fulfill the prophecy of scripture in Zech.9:9. Notice how the Spirit of God reveals this to us in the gospel of Matthew All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:“Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’” Matt 21:4-5 NKJ


Today, Jesus does not need a donkey, but He is looking for people like you and I who are available to do the common tasks that will serve in fulfilling His purpose, and advance His cause. Will you make yourself available to do the needed tasks when He calls? Will you be that person, who will do whatever it takes to perform His word in the earth and advance His cause?“I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” Isa 6:8 NKJ


God is looking to use you as a co-laborer to fulfill His word. His pleasure is to use you to assist Him in advancing His work, which answers the pleasure of our heart…to be used by Him. Just as my grandfather invited me to mow the lawn with him, Jesus is inviting you to work with Him in the work He is doing in the earth today. The task may be making a phone call to encourage another believer in Christ, it may be sharing your Christ story with a friend who does not know the Lord, or it may be partnering with this ministry by sending a monthly gift to help us evangelize the world through the prophecies of the scripture. Whatever the task I encourage you today to hear the heart of the Master and not overlook the common, simple task for the sensational. The joy of pleasing Him is to be our pursuit. “I enjoy pleasing you” Ps.40:8

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