Pleasing God
“Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1) In the surrounding paragraphs, Paul revealed that the First Century was not very different from our time. Holiness was difficult. But rather than feeling miserable for repeated failures, Paul says to focus on loving, respecting, and honoring one another which will strengthen our hearts for success. This is how we please God.
“No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:4) Paul built up Timothy for his daunting task with this general truth. Certainly, soldiers and civilians share many common affairs. The difference is in why they do them. Those who serve Jesus evaluate every option for its value to the Kingdom. The responsibilities of life may appear much the same for faithful and not, but the motivations for those choices are entirely different.
“But do not forget to do good and have fellowship, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16) Fellowship is a connection between spirits. Biblical sacrifice is a celebration of forgiveness, which should turn us outward, not inward. The faithful connect and rejoice in good deeds as a response, not a qualifier. This pleases God.
As expressed in Colossians 1:9 – 12, the faithful walk worthy, are pleasing to God, when they are strengthened through the power of God, not by superior self-control. Knowledge, wisdom, understanding, patience, persistence, joy, and confidence from God enable us to be fruitful in every good work.
“Children, give heed to your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing in the Lord.” (Colossians 3:20) Certainly this advice was for faithful adults who comprised the target audience, not just minors. Although some translations use “obey,” the idea of the verb is to pay attention and respond accordingly. For those “in the Lord,” God is pleased when we seek the council of parents and carefully consider their advice. Strict obedience is not at issue. The point is respect.
“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, and He gave us commandment.” (1 John 3:22 – 23) Bottom line, we are pleasing to God when we implicitly trust the essential quality of Jesus and passionately care about the faithful. These qualify us for the family.
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