How can we live a life that is pleasing to God? So often we say all the right things, but our actions often do not live up to our words. We love to talk about how spiritual we are, but are we doing what is pleasing in God’s eyes?

Consider the following verses from James 1: 

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (verses 26-27).

Are you taking care of broken people? Are you living in a way that allows people to see the fruit of God’s word depicted in your life? We should be demonstrating this fruit in our families, in our church, in our relationships, and in our jobs. People should see that you care, not just hear it.

Are you controlling your anger and laying down your pride? Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. You cannot be righteous and angry out of your own flesh, the two cannot coexist. If your anger is not first directed towards sin and fallen humanity, if the thought of people going to hell doesn’t cause you to become outraged but you are easily angered over trivial matters, then maybe it is time to reconsider your priorities. 

We can live a life that is pleasing to God when we learn to not just speak His word, but to apply it to our lives and allow it to change us from the inside out. You can make the choice today to start living in a way that allows the fruit of God’s word to come alive in your life. In doing so, you will begin to produce the fruit of righteousness that God desires to see in you.