Question: How do I do a better job of living my life for God?

Answer: The first step to living our lives to please God is to understand that we are all sinners. We can’t enter Heaven in our sin, so we need a Savior to take away our sin. Because God loves us, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to be our one and only Lord and Savior. (Read John 3:16) God gave His Son to die on the cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sins. Jesus rose to life again three days after His death and lives with God in Heaven. When we have accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord, have asked Him to forgive us, and have repented, He cleanses us of our sins.

But know that Salvation only comes through Jesus Christ! “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4: 12 NKJV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new…. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (Read 1 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Once we are saved, the next step to living our lives for God is to know God’s words to us through the Holy Bible. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16 that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness….”

In knowing the importance of the Scriptures, we can understand why Believers must stay in God’s word. We can understand why we should regularly read and study the Bible. Through these Scriptures, we also learn of our need to pray regularly. We learn that we need to pray for God’s Holy Spirit to bless us, to guide us, to comfort and help us as we deal with life’s challenges.

A third important step in living to please God is to understand that living for God is not merely a suggestion. It’s also not something you apply to one area of your life but not to another. It’s not something you do just on Sundays. And it’s not something you make excuses not to do because of the unfair actions of others towards you.

You can’t tell God you are making decisions in your life that go against His word because you want to be accepted by those in the sinful culture. You can’t even blame your life choices on the fact that there are some hypocrites in the church.

God already knows about everything that’s going on in the world. He is still in control and will deal with all these things in His own time! He wants us as Believers to love and trust Him and to live according to His word. In part of what’s known as The Great Commission (See Matthew 28: 18-20), Jesus instructs His disciples to “make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” His word expresses His desire for how He wants us to live!

So, as you talk to God today through prayer, see to it that you are not making excuses for why you are not living to please Him! Instead, follow the instructions of Jesus and live your life according to God’s word. Ask His forgiveness and repent when you fall short. He loves you and will forgive you.

Show your love for Him by choosing to live your life to please God. No excuses!