Finally, 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. 1 Thessalonians 4:1
God’s love for us is unconditional but our ability to please Him is based on our actions that are motivated by our faith in Christ. Even though Jesus was the “only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father” (John 1:18), as a man He made it it His aim to always please the father and He pleased Him by what He did: “I always do what pleases him” (John 8:29). Apostle John was a disciple who was beloved to Jesus and this is his testimony about how he lived: “and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him” (1 John 3:22).
How do we live lives that please God? We will look at three ways the Bible shows us how. First, if we live by the dictates of the flesh we can never please God: “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8). Our call as children of God is to live by the Spirit (Romans 8:14). Second, we please God when we live by faith: “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). Be on your guard not to be governed by your emotions or your feelings as they seldom can please God. Finally, the act of doing good and sharing with others pleases God: “And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God” (Hebrews 13:16). A sacrificial act motivated by our relationship with Christ will always please God. This week let us live as those who please God and may God give us the grace to do so even more.
Declaration: This week I make a choice to live my life as one whose actions will please the Lord.
Scripture: So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him (2 Corinthians 5:9).