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The goal of every believer should be to do what is pleasing to God. But we do need help to achieve this goal. John 15:5 states: I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (NIV). If our hearts – our emotions, our mind, and our will – are not yielded to God, we will find ourselves shifting from doing what pleases God to doing what pleases us, if the opportunity arises.
The Biblical account of David and Bathsheba is a good example of the consequences of an opportunity. The scriptures detail that David not only commits adultery with Bathsheba, but he sets in motion a plan that results in the death of her husband Uriah. What gave way to David’s actions?
2 Samuel 11:1: In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem (ESV).
The above verse shows that David did not go off to war like the other kings did. Remaining in Jerusalem presented an opportunity for David to pursue his fleshly desires.
Psalm 51:10: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (NIV).
David needed to be renewed so that he could exercise self-control, for example, so that he could do what pleases God.
The Apostle Paul urges in Galatians 6:9: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (NIV). As believers, we may encounter moments when we want to do what pleases God but it feels like we have run out of the will to do it. If this happens, just know that we are not without a hope. God is there to empower us so that we can persevere.
We must always know that God loves us. That God wants to help us. And that only God can help us live lives that are pleasing to Him. May our posture be as Psalm 119:32 declares: I will [not merely walk, but] run the way of Your commandments, when You give me a heart that is willing (AMPC).
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domain.
