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For do I now persuade men, or God? Or doI seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be abondservant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10

At times you will have to make a choice between pleasing God and pleasing those around you, for God’s ways are not man’s ways (Isa. 55:8–9). As important as it is to strivefor good relations with others, it is even more important to maintaina steadfast and obedient relationship with Christ. Disobeying God tokeep peace with other people is never wise. Peace with God is alwaysparamount. Jesus warned that obeying Him might cause division in yourrelationships (Matt. 10:35–36). 

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“Here I am. Witness against me before the Lordand before His anointed… . And they said, “You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand.”

1Samuel 12:3a–4

There is a freedom that comes in having nothing to hide. Living a life of integrity allows you this freedom. Yourintegrity is measured not by what you say about yourself but by whatGod and people say about you. Samuel had lived all his life among thepeople of God. Leaders who preceded him were dishonest and corrupt; itwould have been easy for Samuel to compromise in his dealings as well.Near the end of his life, however, Samuel could boldly stand beforehis nation and ask them to reveal any offense he had committed againstany of them. They could not think of one. In his position ofleadership, Samuel could have taken advantage of people. 

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So you shall put away the evil from among you.

Deuteronomy 22:21b

It is a dangerous and costly mistake not to take temptation seriously. The sad testimony of many who have succumbed tosin’s enticements is that they thought they were strong enough toremain in the midst of temptation and resist it. God requires that Hispeople remove evil from their midst (Deut. 21:21). One way to do thisis to remove anything in your environment that may tempt you to sin.When wickedness surrounds you, you are in danger of becominganesthetized to its destructive potential. Never assume that you areimmune to temptation. Do not underestimate the craftiness of the evil one. 

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You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God a bull or sheep which has any blemish or defect, for that is an abomination to the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 17:1

God’s love moved Him to sacrifice that which meant the most to Him—His only Son. Our response,if we truly understand His love for us, is the desire to give back toGod that which means the most to us. The Old Testament reveals thatGod set forth high standards for the sacrifices He required of Hispeople. A worthy sacrifice had to cost the people something. As theirhearts shifted away from God, the people began struggling to give Godcostly offerings. They would bring blind, lame, and sick animals,assuming God could not tell the difference (Mal. 1:8). God saw whatthey were doing and declared their offerings to be in vain (Mal.1:10). 

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Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

Matthew 8:21

Often our struggle as Christians is not in deciding whether we should obey Christ but in obeying immediately. We may acknowledge our need to follow Christ and commitourselves to do what He has told us. Yet when God reveals His will tous, that is the time to obey! God’s revelation of His will is Hisinvitation to respond immediately. Some would-be disciples pledgedtheir willingness to follow Jesus, but they told Him they were notready yet. In Jesus’ day, a Jewish man was expected to care for his elderly parents until they died. 

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