What does "choose what pleases Me" in Isaiah 56:4 mean for daily life? Setting of the Verse Isaiah 56 speaks of God opening covenant blessings to those previously excluded—foreigners and eunuchs. Verse 4 highlights three linked commitments God values: “keep My Sabbaths, choose what pleases Me, and hold fast to My covenant.” The phrase sits between Sabbath faithfulness and covenant loyalty, showing it is a deliberate, daily decision to delight the Lord in every sphere of life. The Phrase “Choose What Pleases Me” • “Choose” signals an act of the will—ongoing, conscious, personal decisions. • “What pleases Me” places God’s preferences above our own; His revealed Word defines what is pleasing (Psalm 19:7–11). • Together, the words call for an all-of-life orientation: selecting attitudes, actions, and priorities that agree with the Lord’s character and commands. Daily Life Implications 1. Worship and Rest – Honoring the Lord’s Day and cultivating corporate worship parallels “keep My Sabbaths.” – Structuring weekly rhythms around Him declares His worth above productivity. 2. Moral Choices – Evaluating entertainment, speech, and relationships by Scripture’s standards, not cultural norms (Ephesians 5:10). – Rejecting anything God labels sin, even when it costs socially or financially. 3. Relationships – Treating people with the justice, mercy, and humility He loves (Micah 6:8). – Seeking reconciliation quickly; forgiving as we have been forgiven (Colossians 3:13). 4. Work and Stewardship – Laboring “heartily, as for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). – Handling money, time, and talents as resources entrusted by Him. 5. Thought Life – Filling the mind with whatever is true, honorable, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). – Capturing stray thoughts and submitting them to Christ’s lordship (2 Corinthians 10:5). Practical Steps to Live It Out • Start each day asking, “What choices before me would delight You, Lord?” • Read a portion of Scripture daily; note any direct commands or principles. • Before major decisions, pause and compare options to clear biblical teaching. • Build accountability: invite trusted believers to speak if your choices drift from God’s pleasure. • End the day with honest reflection—confess any missteps, thank Him for Spirit-enabled obedience, and rest in His grace. Encouragement from Other Scriptures • John 14:15 – “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • 2 Corinthians 5:9 – “So we aspire to please Him, whether we are here in the body or away from it.” • Colossians 1:10 – “so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Choosing what pleases the Lord is not a rare heroic act; it is the cumulative effect of thousands of ordinary, Spirit-empowered choices that quietly proclaim, “Jesus is Lord,” throughout everyday life. |
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