2 Corinthians 4:1 – 5:10; 2 Kings 17; Micah 6

“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9 NKJV)

Throughout this section Paul deals with Christians and the issue of life and death. As he dealt with the questions from the church, they asked a question that’s still discussed today. Is it better to keep on living on this earth, or would it be better to be with Jesus right away. In short, if we’re absent from the body, we’re present with the Lord. If we’re present in the body, were absent from the Lord. I believe the influence of Greek culture, which saw material things, especially the body as evil, made this an important question to the Corinthians. Paul’s response is timeless: wherever we are, whatever we do, we’re called to please God. In other words, God still has something for us to do.

Let that thought sink in. God has something for you to do. He’s called you for a purpose. Following Christ is not a decision we make so that we’ll have fire insurance in the hereafter, we follow Christ to enter into and develop a relationship with God. Because of that relationship, we should want to do whatever we can to please God. We don’t serve Him out of fear of losing our relationship with Him; we serve Him out of a desire to experience a greater joy in our relationship. Throughout the Old and New Testament, our relationship with God is described as a marriage. In a good marriage, husbands and wives don’t act because they’re afraid their spouse won’t love them if they don’t, they act because they want the relationship to grow stronger and stronger. That should be our attitude as we live daily in our relationship with God. 

Lord, teach me how to live a life that’s well pleasing to You. Remind me of Your call on my life each day.