Sir Walter Scott wrote:
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave When first we practice to deceive!”
The life that is real cannot be built on things that are deceptive. Before we can walk in the light, we must know and accept ourselves and yield ourselves to God. It is foolish to try to deceive others because God already knows what we really are!

The life that is real also has no love for sin. Instead of trying to cover sin, a true believer confesses sin and tries to conquer it by walking in the light of God’s Word. He is careful to match his walk and his talk.

All this helps to explain why walking in the light makes life so much easier and happier. When you walk in the light, you live to please only one Person—God. If we live to please ourselves and God, we are trying to serve two masters, and this never works.

If we live to please people, we will always be in trouble because no two will agree and we will find ourselves caught in the middle.

Walking in the light—living to please God—simplifies our goals, unifies our lives, and gives us a true sense of peace and poise.

Verse for today: “Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more”(1 Thessalonians 4:1, NIV).

Also consider: John 8:29; Proverbs 16:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:4.

Action assignment: On a scale from 1 to 10, rate how much you are trying to please God and yourself in everything you do. Remember that in truly pleasing God, you end up pleasing yourself. Ask God to help you identify those areas over which you have tended to write “Keep out”; be ruthlessly honest as you begin turning those areas over to Him. List one area today and write down what you can do to make it pleasing to God.

WARREN W. WIERSBE
www.backtothebible.in