Devotion 

Pleasing God, Not Man

Frances Taylor 

Paul didn't preach for his own gain. He wasn't trying to win friends. Actually, he made many enemies because of his preaching. The Jews weren't happy that he preached Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. The Greeks weren't happy because he was preaching a way of life that said that their way of life was immoral. The pagans weren't too thrilled either for the same reason. Paul preached to bring the Good News of salvation to all that would listen. He wasn't worried about the consequences to himself, even though he had suffered beatings and torture as well as imprisonment because of his preaching. He made many converts in Thessalonica as well as in Philippi as well as other countries, such as Greece, but he wanted them to know that they were not alone in their new faith. He wanted them to know that what they had been taught was true, that they could depend on it, that it came from God. God was the only one Paul was trying to please. What about us? Who do we try to please? Do we try to please others, ourselves or God? We all know people who we might call "pleasers." They will tell you what they think you want to hear.

I once was watching one of my favorite mysteries on television and the plot concerned a woman running for a state office. Her speech writer had quit and she asked one of the main characters to do the job for her. She was reading a speech she had given the week before to get an idea, and was told that it wouldn't work for the next group because the first speech was for young mothers who cared about daycare and the next was for a senior citizen center. When she asked if the candidate really believed in daycare centers, he said that she did that day. We can choose who we please and how we choose to do it. Will it be God or man?

Prayer 

Lord, you have given us so much. You have shown us the way to you which is a way of truth and love. It is important that we choose to please you above all else. Amen.