Mitchell Swaback Charities

Volume 82 • June 1, 2011

Subscribe | Archives | Donations | Media

Pleasing God

⁶And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ⁷By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. — Hebrews 11:6-7

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. By “impossible” I don’t mean it’s difficult or hard or even unlikely to please God. It’s a clear line. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. The word in the Greek there is adunaton. It means “without power, impotent, futile.” Without faith, God’s pleasure is not going to happen!

People have such an incredibly difficult time accepting the impossibility of pleasing God without faith. We try all kinds of other means to please God, don’t we? Most often, people try works as a way to please God. So many people I’ve talked to used to think that. Then they understood God’s Word, which says that you can’t please God by works.

Some people think religion works to please God. But going to church, singing songs, dropping something in the offering—if it’s just a routine or a ritual, then it means nothing to God and He’s not pleased with it. It’s just a checkmark to you and it doesn’t please God. It’s faith that fires God up--when He looks down into your heart and He sees that you trust Him, you believe Him, you’re willing to give Him your life. That pleases God. See, without faith it’s impossible to please God.

In fact, faith is the way to everything with God. This faith thing is everywhere in God’s Word! Just check out some of these verses: Acts 16:31; Romans 11:20;
2 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 1 John 5:4. If you have many difficult things coming into your workplace and invading your home, and you don’t know the way out of it, the Scriptures say the way to overcome those things is through trust in God.

Now, it’s not your faith that makes all those things happen. It’s not the faith that saves you. It’s not the faith that helps you stand. Catch this—it is the faith that gets God involved in the problem. God stands over here and He says I’m not getting involved in your thing if you don’t believe that I can help you with it. So faith is the thing that swings open a gate and says God, I want You to help me. That faith pleases God!

—James MacDonald

For more from James MacDonald and the "Walk in the Word" Bible teaching ministry, visit WalkInTheWord.com

Mitch's Journal

Thursday 3/4/2004

Today I meet to scope on a large project. I prayed and left it in God's hands. I just hope all goes well.

God taught me about obedience and consistency and being devoted to Him.

News Highlights

Harvest Compassion Center - Food Bank

May 26, 2011

"Come In, We're Open!" All of us at MSC are thrilled to announce the opening of the Harvest Compassion Center located in North Phoenix, AZ. Months of planning and tiresome work have paid off as HCC, a local food bank and clothes closet, will open its doors June 1st! From…

Run Or Walk for MSC! September 11, 2011, Lake Shore Drive, Chicago

MSC is looking for motivated individuals who will partner with us to raise funding for MSC and all of our projects! We ask you to get involved and sign up today to complete the 15th Annual Chicago Half Marathon or 5K Races this September. Our goal is to get 50 runners to join forces with us and make this an annual fundraiser and as of June 1st we have 12! So MSC NEEDS YOU!

Join us at MSC as we use these two races as our main fundraiser this year. Without your help and support, MSC can't continue to make a difference for the less fortunate. Read below to find out how to sign up today!

Go to the home page for The 15th Annual Chicago Half Marathon and register for the Half Marathon and enter coupon code CHMMSC11 to be registered as a MSC runner. MSC is designated as a charity running team with the Chicago Half Marathon, you can look up our logo on their Charity Program & Partners page. After you've registered online, please email Nicolee Thonpson and we'll create your 'SPONSOR ME' page on MSC's web site. 100% of the proceeds raised will go directly towards MSC's projects! The newest being MSC's first sponsored Food & Clothing bank opening June 1st! Come on out and bring a friend! Together we can make this a success!