The Pleasure of Pleasing God

What difference would it make in your life if, by the way you lived your life, you could actually please God? What difference would it make in your life if, by the way you worked, and rested, and talked and walked, and loved, and served, you could actually please God?

Not “please God” in the sense of help God feel better or happier than he otherwise would. God is infinite in gladness. No human can add to his joy, nor detract from it. We don’t please God in the sense of giving him something that he doesn’t already have.

Nor do we please God in the sense of merit — earning something from Him. God has no needs, he is not served by human hands. No human has ever done God a favor. We don’t please God in the sense of meriting something from him.

But do we, could we, by our words, and thoughts, and actions — imperfect and impure as we are — actually please God? Please God in the sense of evoke God’s perfect pleasure, stir up God’s infinite delight, draw out God’s everlasting smile? Could we actually please God in that sense? God says we can.

That’s why Paul prayed that the Colossians would, “Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him” (Col. 1:10).

That’s why Paul sought to speak, “Not to please man, but to please God” (1 Thess. 2:3-4).

That’s why, family members in the New Testament are to, “Show godliness to (their) own household…for this is pleasing in the sight of God?” (1 Timothy 5:4).

That’s why Christian citizens are to, “Lead a peaceful and quiet (lives), godly and dignified in every way. (For) this is…pleasing in the sight of God” (1 Tim. 2:2-3).

Brothers and sisters, God tells us in his word that we can please Him. We can evoke pleasure in Him. And the fact that we can, should drive us to want to do so more and more and more. 

It should make us want to say with Paul, that whether home or away, “(We) Make it our aim to please (God).” (2 Corinthians 5:9).

That, as with Hebrews, we will, “Not neglect to do good and to share what (we) have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Heb. 13:16).

That, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus, we will share in suffering. (For) No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4).

Church, do you believe, this morning, that God is not indifferent to the way you live your life? That God is not able to only ever frown or grimace over your life?  That God has capacity and desire to take pleasure in your life? That though “Without faith, it is impossible to please God”?(Heb. 11:6). But with faith, with faith, Christian, you can please God. 

That if you are a Christian, you have likely already done so more times in your life than you could dare to imagine.

My brothers and sisters, my exhortation to you this morning is this: Revel in the pleasure of pleasing God, and out of that pleasure, seek to please God, in your life, more and more and more. Let’s pray. 

We confess this to you now, along with all the other ways we’ve sinned against you this week in this moment of silent confession…