Living to please God may not be a thought for many people, while others may ask the Lord regularly what they must do. A life guided by the Holy Spirit and His word is a stark contrast to the culture that disregards the holiness of God. The Apostle Paul gives us insight into why people are not interested in the things of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. [1]
When our enemy blinds us, and we don’t have a relationship with Jesus, life becomes all about us and what pleases us. When the Lord draws us to faith, and we surrender to him, it changes how we see God, ourselves, and others. As we follow Jesus, it should affect every area of our life, including living to please Him.
What Pleases God
What pleases God? This is a good question; we receive valuable insight as we look to the Scriptures. The Lord has a plan for our lives. It is beyond what we could imagine, and as we please him, our spiritual journey unfolds.
- The first step in pleasing God is to believe in Jesus as our Savior. Hebrews 11:6 And it is impossible to please God without faith.[2]
- We can please God by the kind way we treat others. Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. [3]
- Jesus leads by example as He looks to please His Heavenly Father. John 8:29 And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.”[4]
- The Lord wants to use our lives as a living sacrifice by the way we live. Romans 12:1And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[5]
- Paul tells us that living for Jesus produces fruit. Colossians 1:10 Then the way you live will always honor, and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.[6]
Pleasing God Makes the World a Better Place
1 Thessalonians 4:1Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.[7]
As I seek to please the Lord, my life takes on new meaning and fruitfulness as the Lord uses me to be a beacon of light to those around me. As a beacon of light, we can bring love, joy, and peace into a hurting world. Will you take a step of faith today and ask the Lord to help you live for Him? You will not be disappointed.
Are you committed to living to please God? To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/live-with-commitment
[1-7] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.