Exodus 33:1–23; 1 Thessalonians 2:1–12; Matthew 5:17–20

St. Paul doesn’t strike me as being a people pleaser. From the evidence in Acts and the letters he wrote, I see a person who faced opposition and even threats to his life in order to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. He knew that his ability to preach the gospel came from God and not himself. And he knew it is always the Holy Spirit’s power, not any human power, that brings a hearer of the gospel to repent and believe in the Lord and Savior of the world.

It’s easy for me to talk about Jesus and the gospel to people who are already believers. However, I am much less comfortable when sharing his good news with persons who are unchurched, hostile towards God, or simply uninformed about who Christ is. Why? Because they are not always pleased with what I say.

However, I believe our Lord wants you and me to share his word of life with people whose lives touch ours, whether or not they are pleased with what we say. It is the Holy Spirit, at work in the proclaiming of the gospel, who turns people away from their sin and toward Jesus.

Prayer: Dear God—Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit—grant us boldness in our gospel words and actions, so that we are not concerned about pleasing people, but rather, concerned that we please you. Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by H. Brian Triller, pastor of Lutheran Gospel Mission, Aston, PA.

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