Pleasing God
The world reminds us that we are living in difficult times. The past few years have confirmed that the devil is alive and well on planet earth. There is trial and tribulation all around us. The devil tricks us into responding to the pandemic and pestilence with panic and pandemonium. In this world there is a lot to be mournful about. However, Jesus said, blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. From Jesus’ perspective of the beatitudes, his blessed attitudes, the mourning is over the things of this world that have separated our hearts from God’s heart. Then with a heart of meekness and humility, we can turn our eyes from this world and instead focus on the things of the spirit of God.
The world teaches us that we have plenty of enemies in this world. The devil will convince us to separates ourselves into warring parties…. His purpose is to steal, to kill and to destroy. His purpose is to divide and conquer. He does this by dividing warring factions into enemy camps. However, Jesus came to reconcile… to bring together that which has been separated. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus. Through Jesus Christ, he is the one who brings us together, our hearts aligned according to the word and will of God. He has called us in the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Therefore above all things put on charity, the love of God which is the bond, the tie that binds our hearts together in the bond of perfectness.
According to Ephesians 5:8-10 in the NIV, For you were once darkness, but now are the light in the Lord. Live as children of light for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth and find out what pleases (is acceptable unto) the Lord.
What is pleasing unto the Lord? The word for “Pleasing” is the Greek word euarestos translated as “well-pleasing” or “acceptable” in the King James Version.
What is it that is acceptable unto God? In the Old Testament Levitcal law the priests offered sacrifices unto God for God’s acceptance. We think that to sacrifice means to give up something. However this is not God’s definition of an acceptable sacrifice. What are the sacrifices that are acceptable or well-pleasing to God? According to Hebrews 13:15-16, through him, then, we may offer up a sacrifice of praise always to God, that is, the fruit of lips, giving thanks to His name; and of doing good, and of fellowship, be not forgetful, for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased.
We are to offer sacrifices that are pleasing to God. These are the sacrifices of praise, worship in awe, reverence and respect from a heart of love. This is the essence of Romans 12:1, Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Our challenge is to do that which is well pleasing (acceptable) unto the Lord. We often pray for God to bless us. Our prayer in English is a quote from the Beatles’ song: Please, please, please…. Please me. We think that prayer is for God to please me. We think that prayer is a plead for God to bring about our own good pleasure. However, James says, you pray and you do not receive… because when you pray you ask for things that you may consume it on your own lust. Lust is anything that we love more than our love of God. Lust is an over-desire… anything that we desire over our desire for God.
We live to please those we love. Who is it that you love most? The first and great commandment says, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind…. With your very essence in everything that is in you.
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, where your treasure there will your heart be also. We invest our efforts and our energy in the things and the people we love. Therefore, don’t accumulate things of this world, instead lay up for yourself treasures in heaven… through eternal investments with a heart to love and serve God above all.
In Ephesians 5 we were born into the darkness of this fallen world. Jesus Christ himself is the light of the world. We who have been born again of God’s spirit are his photo-multipliers… we are the lights in a world of darkness who reflect the light of Christ. The light eliminates the darkness. Light reveals and makes clear the truth of the Word of God. Jesus Christ is the Word of God… he is the revealed word of God made manifest.
Prior to receiving God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, we were blinded by the darkness of this world. Our fallen nature we inherited from Adam was the nature of sin and death. However, We have received new life in Christ through the power of His Holy Spirit. We were children of darkness but now we are children of light. Jesus Christ himself is the light…. He is the truth of the word of God made manifest. The Light of Christ illuminates the eyes of our spiritual understanding so we can see from God’s heavenly perspective.
Now that we have been born again of God’s spirit, we can live in the newness of life in Christ. As David said, Create in me a new heart O Lord. With God’s spirit born again within us, the desire of the new heart of God in Christ in us is to please God.
True prayer is Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane…. Jesus prayed three times for God to remove the impending cup of God’s wrath… of taking upon himself the pain, torture, shame, beating, crucifixion and death as just retribution for the sins of the world. He prayed, if there be any other way, Please Father, take this cup of wrath from me. His ultimate prayer, however was “Not my will but thine be done.”
True prayer is not please, please, please…. please me. Instead the essence of prayer is the diplomatic French phrase: “S’il vous plait.” This means, “If it pleases you.” In other words, “Not my will but thine be done.” The blessing is not in seeking the blessing, instead the blessing is seeking the Blessor and in doing that which is well-pleasing, acceptable unto Him.
Here are some other verses to understand from the perspective of Christ’s eyes behind our eyes what it means to be well pleasing unto our Heavenly Father…
Psalm 147:10-11. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
1 Thessalonians 2:4. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.
Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
John 8:29. Jesus said, And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Col 3:23. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
Hebrews 11:6. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that the exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Psalm 69:30-32. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
Our prayer is according to Psalm 19:14. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
That we may be well-pleasing in thy sight O Lord, offering up continually a sacrifice of praise from a heart of love to thy honor and glory!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
