Tuesday 23 September 2008

Signs of Living to Please God

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We are exhorted by Paul in 2 Corinthians 13:5 to examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith. And although I feel that Scripture is the greatest rule to examine ourselves by, many men of God have offered lists that we can use carefully with discernment as we conduct these times of self examination.
One of these lists that I think is very helpful was written by the puritan Richard Baxter.

Signs of Living to Please God (By Richard Baxter)
1. You will be most careful to understand the Scripture, to know what doth please and displease God.

2. You will be more careful in the doing of every duty, to fit it to the pleasing of God than men.

3. You will look to your hearts, and not only to your actions; to your ends, and thoughts, and the inward manner and degree.

4. You will look to secret duties as well as public and to that which men see not, as well as unto that which they see.

5. You will reverence your consciences, and have much to do with them, and will not slight them: when they tell you of God's displeasure, it will disquiet you; when they tell you of his approval, it will comfort you.

6. Your pleasing men will be charitable for their good, and pious in order to the pleasing of God, and not proud and ambitious for your honour with them, nor impious against the pleasing of God.

7. Whether men be pleased or displeased, or how they judge of you, or what they call you, will seem a small matter to you, as their own interest, in comparison to God's judgment. You live not on them. You can bear their displeasure, censures, and reproaches, if God be but pleased. These will be your evidences.
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About Boaly
Gary has been involved in printing the Scriptures for 20 years, enjoys photography and rambling online

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