A Heart that Pleases God

But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. 2 Samuel 24:24, NIV

David realized that to serve God fully, it was going to cost him big! Do you have that realization yet in your Christian life?

I can’t tell you how many people I encounter that think the Christian life is supposed to be easy. They think that this Gloryland Train is going to carry them safely into Heaven with barely a scratch. I have to be honest with you. That is wrong! The Christian life is tough at best! In David’s heart, he realized that in order to really please God, he had to be willing to sacrifice for Him. That was a heart that pleased God.

I’m not going to beat you up with truth today. This verse sort of speaks for itself, but may I simply ask you a few questions?

What are you giving up so that you may serve God fully? Serving God will most always involve sacrifice.

Are you serving God regardless of the costs? You want always please everyone around you when you are sold out for Christ. Are you willing to face the consequences?

Do you really want to do God’s will...even if it hurts? What if God asks you to do something you don’t want to do? What if He asks you to break up with a boyfriend who is no good for you? What if He asks you to trust Him longer, when you feel it has been to long already? What if He tells you “NO,” even when the only answer you could envision was “yes?” Do you still want God’s will for your life?

David had a heart that pleased God, because David realized that serving God involved sacrifice, commitment, and a “stick-to-it...no-matter-what attitude”. Does that describe your heart? (Does it describe mine?)