标杆人生 第09天 什么事令神欢喜？
What Makes God Smile?
May the LORD smile on you....
Numbers 6:25 (NLT)
Smile on me, your servant; teach me the right way to live.
The smile of God is the goal of your life.
Since pleasing God is the first purpose of your life, your most important task is to discover how to do that. The Bible says, "Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.' Fortunately, the Bible gives us a clear example of a life that gives pleasure to God. The man's name was Noah.
In Noah's day, the entire world had become morally bankrupt. Everyone lived for their own pleasure, not God's. God couldn't find anyone on earth interested in pleasing him, so he was grieved and regretted making man. God became so disgusted with the human race that he considered wiping it out. But there was one man who made God smile. The Bible says, "Noah was a pleasure to the Lord."
God said, "This guy brings me pleasure. He makes me smile. I'll start over with his family." Because Noah brought pleasure to God, you and I are alive today. From his life we learn the five acts of worship that make God smile.
God smiles when we love him supremely 2. Noah loved God more than anything else in the world, even when no one else did! The Bible tells us that for his entire life, "Noah consistently followed God's will and enjoyed a close relationship with Him."
This is what God wants most from you: a relationship! It's the most astounding 3 truth in the universe-that our Creator wants to fellowship with us. God made you to love you, and he longs for you to love him back. He says, "I don't want your sacrifices-I want your love; I don't want your offerings-I want you to know me."
Can you sense God's passion for you in this verse? God deeply loves you and desires your love in return. He longs for you to know him and spend time with him. This is why learning to love God and be loved by him should be the greatest objective of your life. Nothing else comes close in importance. Jesus called it the greatest commandment. He said, "Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment."
God smiles when we trust him completely. The second reason Noah pleased God was that he trusted God, even when it didn't make sense. The Bible says, "By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn't see, and acted on what he was told.... As a result, Noah became intimate with God."
Imagine this scene: One day God comes to Noah and says, "I'm disappointed in human beings. In the entire world, no one but you thinks about me. But Noah, when I look at you, I start smiling. I'm pleased with your life, so I'm going to flood the world and start over with your family. I want you to build a giant ship that will save you and the animals."
There were three problems that could have caused Noah to doubt. First, Noah had never seen rain, because prior to the Flood, God irrigated 4 the earth from the ground up.' Second, Noah lived hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean. Even if he could learn to build a ship, how would he get it to water? Third, there was the problem of rounding up all the animals and then caring for them. But Noah didn't complain or make excuses. He trusted God completely, and that made God smile.
Trusting God completely means having faith that he knows what is best for your life. You expect him to keep his promises, help you with problems, and do the impossible when necessary. The Bible says, "He takes pleasure in those that honor Him; in those who trust in His constant love."
It took Noah 120 years to build the ark. I imagine he faced many discouraging days. With no sign of rain year after year, he was ruthlessly criticized as a "crazy man who thinks God speaks to him." I imagine Noah's children were often embarrassed by the giant ship being built in their front yard. Yet Noah kept on trusting God.
In what areas of your life do you need to trust God completely? Trusting is an act of worship. Just as parents are pleased when children trust their love and wisdom, your faith makes God happy. The Bible says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God "
God smiles when we obey him wholeheartedly. Saving the animal population from a worldwide flood required great attention to logistics and details. Everything had to be done just as God prescribed it. God didn't say, "Build any old boat you'd like, Noah." He gave very detailed 5 instructions as to the size, shape, and materials of the ark as well as the different numbers of animals to be brought on board. The Bible tells us Noah's response: "So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him."
Trusting God completely means having faith that he knows what is best for your life.
Notice that Noah obeyed completely (no instruction was overlooked), and he obeyed exactly (in the way and time God wanted it done). That is wholeheartedness. It is no wonder God smiled on
Noah.
If God asked you to build a giant boat, don't you think you might have a few questions, objections, or reservations? Noah didn't. He obeyed God wholeheartedly. That means doing whatever God asks without reservation or hesitation 6. You don't procrastinate 7 and say, "I'll pray about it." You do it without delay. Every parent knows that delayed obedience 8 is really disobedience.
God doesn't owe you an explanation or reason for everything he asks you to do. Understanding can wait, but obedience can't. Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions. In fact, you will never understand some commands until you obey them first. Obedience unlocks understanding.
Often we try to offer God partial obedience. We want to pick and choose the commands we obey. We make a list of the commands we like and obey those while ignoring the ones we think are unreasonable 9, difficult, expensive, or unpopular. I'll attend church but I won't tithe 10. I'll read my Bible but won't forgive the person who hurt me. Yet partial obedience is disobedience.
Wholehearted obedience is done joyfully 11, with enthusiasm. The Bible says, "Obey him gladly." This is the attitude of David: `Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey."
James, speaking to Christians 12, said, "We please God by what we do and not only by what we believe." God's Word is clear that you can't earn your salvation 13. It comes only by grace, not your effort. But as a child of God you can bring pleasure to your heavenly Father through obedience. Any act of obedience is also an act of worship. Why is obedience so pleasing to God? Because it proves you really love him. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey my commandments.”
God smiles when we praise and thank him continually. Few things feel better than receiving heartfelt praise and appreciation 14 from someone else. God loves it, too. He smiles when we express our adoration 15 and gratitude 16 to him.
Noah's life brought pleasure to God because he lived with a heart of praise and thanksgiving. Noah's first act after surviving the Flood was to express his thanks to God by offering a sacrifice. The Bible says, "Then Noah built an altar to the LORD ... and sacrificed burnt offerings on it."
Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we don't offer animal sacrifices as Noah did. Instead we are told to offer God "the sacrifice of praise" and "the sacrifice of thanksgiving.” We praise God for who he is, and we thank God for what he has done. David said, "I will praise God's name in song and glorify 17 him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD."
An amazing thing happens when we offer praise and thanksgiving to God. When we give God enjoyment 18, our own hearts are filled with joy!
My mother loved to cook for me. Even after I married Kay, when we would visit my parents, Mom prepared incredible home-cooked feasts. One of her great pleasures in life was watching us kids eat and enjoy what she prepared. The more we enjoyed eating it, the more enjoyment it gave her.
But we also enjoyed pleasing Mom by expressing our enjoyment of her meal. It worked both ways. As I would eat the great meal, I would rave 19 about it and praise my mother. I intended not only to enjoy the food but to please my mother. Everyone was happy.
Worship works both ways, too. We enjoy what God has done for us, and when we express that enjoyment to God, it brings him joy-but it also increases our joy. The book of Psalms 20 says, "The righteous are glad and rejoice in his presence; they are happy and shout for joy."
God smiles when we use our abilities. After the Flood, God gave Noah these simple instructions: `Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.... Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
God said, "It's time to get on with your life! Do the things I designed humans to do. Make love to your spouse 21. Have babies. Raise families. Plant crops and eat meals. Be humans! This is what I made you to be!"
You may feel that the only time God is pleased with you is when you're doing "spiritual" activities-like reading the Bible, attending church, praying, or sharing your faith. And you may think God is unconcerned about the other parts of your life. Actually, God enjoys watching every detail of your life, whether you are working, playing, resting, or eating. He doesn't miss a single move you make. The Bible tells us, "The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives."
Every human activity, except sin, can be done for God's pleasure if you do it with an attitude of praise. You can wash dishes, repair a machine, sell a product, write a computer program, grow a crop, and raise a family for the glory of God.
Like a proud parent, God especially enjoys watching you use the talents and abilities he has given you. God intentionally 22 gifted us differently for his enjoyment. He has made some to be athletic 23 and some to be analytical 24. You may be gifted at mechanics or mathematics or music or a thousand other skills. All these abilities can bring a smile to God's face. The Bible says, "He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do."
You don't bring glory or pleasure to God by hiding your abilities or by trying to be someone else. You only bring him enjoyment by being you. Anytime you reject any part of yourself, you are rejecting God's wisdom and sovereignty in creating you. God says, "You have no right to argue with your Creator. You are merely a clay pot shaped by a potter: The clay doesn't ask, Why did you make me this way?”
In the film Chariots of Fire, Olympic runner Eric Liddell says, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast, and when I run, I feel God's pleasure." Later he says, "To give up running would be to hold him in contempt." There are no unspiritual abilities, just misused 25 ones. Start using yours for God's pleasure.
God also gains pleasure in watching you enjoy his creation. He gave you eyes to enjoy beauty, ears to enjoy sounds, your nose and taste buds to enjoy smells and tastes, and the nerves under your skin to enjoy touch. Every act of enjoyment becomes an act of worship when you thank God for it. In fact, the Bible says, "God ... generously gives us everything for our enjoyment."
God even enjoys watching you sleep! When my children were small, I remember the deep satisfaction of watching them sleep. Sometimes the day had been filled with problems and disobedience, but asleep they looked contented 26, secure, and peaceful, and I was reminded of how much I love them.
My children didn't have to do anything for me to enjoy them. I was happy to just watch them
breathing, because I loved them so much. As their little chests would rise and fall, I'd smile, and sometimes tears of joy filled my eyes. When you are sleeping, God gazes at you with love, because you were his idea. He loves you as if you were the only person on earth.
God enjoys watching every detail of your life.
Parents do not require their children to be perfect, or even mature, in order to enjoy them. They enjoy them at every stage of development. In the same way, God doesn't wait for you to reach maturity 27 before he starts liking 28 you. He loves and enjoys you at every stage of your spiritual development.
You may have had unpleasable teachers or parents as you were growing up. Please don't assume God feels that way about you. He knows you are incapable 29 of being perfect or sinless. The Bible says, "He certainly knows what we are made of. He bears in mind that we are dust."
What God looks at is the attitude of your heart: Is pleasing him your deepest desire? This was Paul's life goal: "More than anything else, however, we want to please him, whether in our home here or there." When you live in light of eternity 30, your focus changes from "How much pleasure am I getting out of life?" to "How much pleasure is God getting out of my life?"
God is looking for people like Noah in the twenty-first century people willing to live for the pleasure of God. The Bible says, "The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who are wise, who want to please God."
Will you make pleasing God the goal of your life? There is nothing that God won't do for the person totally absorbed with this goal.
DAY NINE THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE
Point to Ponder: God smiles when I trust him.
Verse to Remember: "The Lord is pleased with those who worship him and trust his love." Psalm 147:11 (CEV)
Question to Consider: Since God knows what is best, in what areas of my life do I need to trust him most?
- The clergyman began droning the psalm.牧师开始以单调而低沈的语调吟诵赞美诗。
- The minister droned out the psalm.牧师喃喃地念赞美诗。
- They managed it all supremely well. 这件事他们干得极其出色。
- I consider a supremely beautiful gesture. 我觉得这是非常优雅的姿态。
- There was an astounding 20% increase in sales. 销售量惊人地增加了20%。
- The Chairman's remarks were so astounding that the audience listened to him with bated breath. 主席说的话令人吃惊，所以听众都屏息听他说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- They irrigated their crops with water from this river. 他们用这条小河里的水浇庄稼。
- A crop can be sown, weeded, irrigated, and fertilized uniformly. 一种作物可以均匀一致地进行播种，除草，灌溉和施肥。
- He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
- A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。
- After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
- There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
- Most often we procrastinate when faced with something we do not want to do.面对不想做的事情，我们经常拖延。
- It's easy to procrastinate when the deadline seems infinitely far away.当最终期限总是遥遥无期时是很容易延期的。
- Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
- Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。
- I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
- They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。
- It's not Christ plus your tithe.这不是基督再加上你的什一税。
- The bible tells us that the tithe is the lords.圣经说十分之一是献给主的。
- She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
- During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。
- Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
- His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。
- Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
- Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。
- I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
- I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。
- He gazed at her with pure adoration.他一往情深地注视着她。
- The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
- I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
- She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
- Politicians have complained that the media glorify drugs.政治家们抱怨媒体美化毒品。
- We are all committed to serving the Lord and glorifying His name in the best way we know.我们全心全意敬奉上帝，竭尽所能颂扬他的美名。
- Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
- After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。
- The drunkard began to rave again.这酒鬼又开始胡言乱语了。
- Now I understand why readers rave about this book.我现明白读者为何对这本书赞不绝口了。
- the Book of Psalms 《〈圣经〉诗篇》
- A verse from Psalms knifed into Pug's mind: "put not your trust in princes." 《诗篇》里有一句话闪过帕格的脑海：“不要相信王侯。” 来自辞典例句
- Her spouse will come to see her on Sunday.她的丈夫星期天要来看她。
- What is the best way to keep your spouse happy in the marriage?在婚姻中保持配偶幸福的最好方法是什么？
- I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
- The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所，因此没有资格再获得提供住房。
- This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
- He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。
- I have an analytical approach to every survey.对每项调查我都采用分析方法。
- As a result,analytical data obtained by analysts were often in disagreement.结果各个分析家所得的分析数据常常不一致。
- He misused his dog shamefully. 他可耻地虐待自己的狗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He had grossly misused his power. 他严重滥用职权。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
- The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。
- These plants ought to reach maturity after five years.这些植物五年后就该长成了。
- This is the period at which the body attains maturity.这是身体发育成熟的时期。
- The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
- I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。