My dearest friend, Marvin Clanton, now with the Lord, used to say, “Only God can please God.” This statement went over the heads of most Christians. It was so profound; they didn’t realize the depth of it. They simply passed it off as another one of this strange country preacher’s sayings.
But Marv was only echoing what Paul said to the Hebrews in the Book by that name. In the thirteenth chapter, verse twenty-one, he tells them that God is “working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight.” We see this truth exemplified in faith. Without it, we cannot please God; but we are told it is a gift from God. Hence, only God can please God.
Why then is God not more pleased through our lives by the things He gives us? A good illustration of this is found in Hannah. She was barren, and asked the Lord for a child. She promised to give him back to God if He would only answer her prayer. So the Lord gave this woman something, who had nothing, and she offered it back to Him in appreciation. Thus, God was pleased. In the case of most of us, we keep our “Samuels.”
God’s gifts and blessings are conceived in Heaven, given birth on earth, and are to be presented back to Him in thanksgiving. It is a re-cycling process. David knew this. Speaking to the Lord, he says, “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given them” Mary, the mother of our Lord, said “Amen” to this statement, in the temple, after the birth of Jesus.
All our darling “Isaacs” are from God, therefore, they are to be offered back to Him.
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