{"id":4681,"date":"2018-06-01T11:10:03","date_gmt":"2018-06-01T11:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baonline.cog7engage.net\/?p=4681"},"modified":"2023-08-29T11:22:31","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T17:22:31","slug":"joining-the-dance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baonline.cog7engage.net\/joining-the-dance\/","title":{"rendered":"Joining The Dance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bless ye the\u00a0<\/span>Lord<\/span>, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his\u00a0pleasure (Psalm 103:21<\/span>).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here we are \u201cin-between\u201d again. . . .<\/span><\/p>\n

In the most recent <\/span>Bible Advocate,<\/span><\/i> our theme is the Royal Law. In the July-August BA, out later this month, we\u2019re looking at Christian Living. Sabbath and marriage are two divine institutions that stand out especially in this pair of issues covering CoG7 Statements of Faith 7-10. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Christian life and the commandments of God obviously go together, but the law of love reminds us that more than a list of rules \u2014 do\u2019s and don\u2019ts to tick off \u2014 this is the intersection where relationship between Creator and creature plays out in everyday life. As with loving, flourishing marriages, vital to this sacred covenant relationship is shared love \u2014 the desire to know and please the beloved covenant partner. <\/span><\/p>\n

Our Lord is faithful to do His part. His bountiful gifts and promises, His very presence, is the source of all pleasure: <\/span><\/p>\n

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are\u00a0pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And what is our part? God\u2019s commandments reveal what pleases Him and what does not; what enriches relationship with Him and what undermines it. Christian living, then, is our heart\u2019s response to His, like a dance in step to His tempo, embraced, to \u201cdo His pleasure\u201d<\/span> and all that is pleasing in His sight <\/span>(Psalm 103:21; 1 John 3:22). He leads; we follow. <\/span><\/p>\n

This set me searching Scripture for specifics. What is His pleasure? What pleases, and does not please, our heavenly Father? Here\u2019s what I found: <\/span><\/p>\n