Making God smile

Many things put a smile on God's face. Showing love to others, worship, understanding God's unconditional love, and putting our abilities to work.

We want to make God smile. It's a natural response to such great exuberance He's lavished on us in the Gospel. Before we begin, it's good to have an understanding of God's unconditional love.

It just snowed recently here in New York. If you're privileged to enjoy a great relationship with your parents, the thought could occur to clear their snow for them. They'll probably appreciate it. Upon completion, you don't get paid, no. It probably ends with casual conversation and a follow-up on previous things.

It becomes complicated when they request you to clear out the shed, help with dishes, pick up laundry, walk the dog, and hook up that steak you can make so well. That's a kind of picture Christian service is painted out to be, and it's inaccurate.

All true service to God is mostly carried out by God himself. We start out doing something for God like David thought in a building a tabernacle for worship, and it ends up with Him doing something bigger for us. So we let His will be done.

When we use our natural abilities, through the ability He gives us, we make God smile. Obeying God in Christ is always a sure winner. We glow differently, bearing witness to His promises.

That's what it looks like to become salt to the earth and light to the world. Hopefully, you've become hungry to becoming salt and light. You've got a lot of both. In the days ahead, we'll take a look at what they are and how to use them.

#Grace

#Faith

#Love

#Gospel

#Goodworks