Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-18
TOPIC:
Why and How to Please
Christ.
II Tim, 2:I-I3.
Why Please Christ?


e1efr E often find that what seems
nl(VA the easiest subjects are the
wv hardest The simplest and most
familiar truths are the most difncult 10
explain They are so clear and plain thai
no exposition is needed. and there Is
nothing to explain about. 1t Is sc
UNANIMOUSLY evident that every one should
want to please Christ. that we are
startled when asked, why please Hmm
and we do not know where to begin IN
answering. All who believe the scrip
| lures of the Old and New Testament to
he the inspired word Of God have no
tack of reasons for wishing to please
Christ. but those who do not accept the
/, Rihle as a revelation from GOO have no
reasons for seeking His favor, for to
them He can have no meaning or value.
Men may believe in the existence OF
God from the evidences of creation, but
not in the existence of Christ, the God
man. unless they accept the BiDle as the ne
Gods unknown to the world except as
revealed In the scriptures.
We who believe the scriptures find
Christ not only reality, but a radiant
name is "Wonderfu, Counsellor, the
mighty God, the everlasting Father the
Prince of Peace"
He is our Lord and King and as such
is the final Judge of all the earth.
Because Of His exalted character and
station and the fact that we all are to
appear before His judgment seat is one
reason why we should want to please
Him. But if that is the only considera-
ton prompting the purpose to please, it
will surely be in vain. 1t is not fear
but love that pleases Him. He is ever
pleading for our love.
Behold, stand at the door and
knock.' He says: IF any man hear my
Voice and open the door, L will come in
to him, and will sup with him and he
with me-"
After suffering in our room and stead,
LAYING down His human life as a sacri-
fice shedding His blood as an atone
ment for our sins, He comes pleading at
the door of our hearts for admission and
fellowship not that He may be benented,
but that we through His sovereign grace
may be made partakers OF the heayenly
all who will receive Him. What infinite
condensation and love. This should be
a compelling reason why We should strive
to please Him.
came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister" Therefore. our greatest pleas
ure should be in doing the things well
pleasing In His sight and for the reason
that His love constratneth us.
How to Please Christ.
First by doing the will of His Father.
Not every one that sayeth unto me.
Lord. Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven; but he that doeth the will OF
nv Father which is In heaven; and in
another Scripture Christ said: Il seek
not mine own will, but the will of the
Fathe. that sent me-"
AS Christ even sought not His own will,
but that of His Father. how great must
he His pleasure in seeing His followers
eager to know ana to do Gods will, and
to all such there is an assured entrance
into the kingdom of heaven.
Cod alone can make us perfect in every
good work to His will, and we are there
fore to importune through Christ for
grace to conform to the requirements OF
Gods will.
the benedictory prayer of Paul is fully
answered to our souls: Now. the God of
peace, that brought again from the dead
our Lord Jesus that great shepherd OF
the sheep, through the blood of the ever
lasting covenant, make you perfect in
every good work to do His will, working
in YOU that which is well pleasing in His
sight, through Jesus Christ. to whom be
glory forever and ever A amer 90 40.
whatsoever we ask, we receive OF Him.
because we keep His commandments and
do those things that are pleasing in His
sight"
All requirements for pleasing Christ are
fulfilled when we conform our lives to
Gods law but how are We to show our
nurnose of doing the will of the Father?
In many ways, among which may be
named prayer, deeds of mercy. bearing
fruit and loyal service. All these things
mean the same in the end. but are differ
ent modes of expressing cur relations to
God. If we pray in the strict scriptLral
meaning of the word. we will not fail to
do deeds Of mercy, to bear fruit and to
render loyal service. but. all Christians
do not cultivate them alike. and 1t may