THAT I MAY PLEASE HIM

Text: Eph: 5:8-11. Heb 11:4-6.

To please is to satisfy, to do what is acceptable and it is to make someone happy. In this context HIM refers to GOD. And this GOD is the GOD Almighty, the Most High GOD. Our creator, the creator of heaven and earth and creator of all things. He is the controller of the universe. The author and finisher of our faith. The one that rules the affairs of our lives. The one that knitted us together in our mother's womb and brought us forth. The one that loves us totally, completely and unconditionally. The one that sacrificed His only begotten son for our sake. The one that knows our beginning and the end. That is the GOD we have to please.

That I may please Him means that I have to do what is acceptable to GOD. What will be satisfactory and satisfy Him and make Him to be happy with you. Pleasing GOD is one of the characteristics of Jesus Christ. In fact he lives to please his Father. While on earth he went about doing his father's business, went about doing good, setting the captives free, healing the sick, teaching and making disciples. Pleasing GOD should be the lifelong goal of all believers. It should be the duty of every Christian to strive to please GOD. As long as you have your being, strive to please Him. In fact let your mantra be "As long as I have my being, I will please Him." I will do what is acceptable to Him. Nothing should be too much to please Him. The Bible admonished us in Thess 4:1 to please GOD and to do what is acceptable to Him and to do this more and more. That is, do this throughout your life-time.

Brethren, you need to know and learn what is pleasing to GOD. You can know by digging deep into the word of GOD and by searching the scriptures. However, I will briefly explain some:

In Eph 5:8-10,  we are admonished to live as children of light; to do good and follow righteousness; to be truthful in all ways and forms; to have nothing to do with darkness because darkness is of the devil; to find out what pleases the Lord. What are those things that please the Lord?

In Matt 22:3, Love GOD as He loves you with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Rom 12:1, Offer your body as living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to GOD. This is regarded as your spiritual act of worship. It pleases the Lord when you surrender yourself totally to Him. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and savour. Have faith in Him for without faith you can't please Him.

Heb 11:6, It is only when you believe in Him and His word that you can inherit His promises.
Lay off old self with its evil practices and put on new self who is being renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created you.

Col 3:9-10, Helping those in need and defending the rights of the poor and needy as well as caring for widows and orphans are very pleasing to GOD. James 1:27.

1 John 5:3, Total obedience to His laws and commands. 

1 Chr 29:17. Give willingly, cheerfully and sacrificially to meet the financial need of the church.

Heb 11:4 Give acceptable offering as Abel did.

2 Cor 8:21. Have regard for what is honourable. 

Col 1:10. Bearing fruit and winning souls for His kingdom.

Col 3:20. Obeying your parents pleases GOD and He even attaches blessing to it for doing so. 

1 Tim: 2:1-3. Praying for people in authority and for everyone pleases GOD.

Brethren, GOD will be so pleased with you if you do all the listed above. Let us consider a character in the Bible that pleased GOD.

Heb 11:4-6 Enoch was commended as one that pleased GOD. He walked faithfully with GOD. He was a righteous man and he did not go the evil way. He believed in GOD and in what GOD says. Because his ways pleased GOD, He took him away so that he did not experience death. GOD did not allow him to see death due to his faithfulness and obedience. Brethren, Enoch was human like you and I, he even lived pre era of flood. Despite all the evil things happening during that time, he did not partake. He was after righteousness and GOD found him faithful and righteous.

GOD sees our heart and knows our intentions and He will judge us accordingly. You are admonished to strive hard to please Him.

There are benefits when we please GOD.
His presence will always go with you and you will be distinguished from all other people. Ex 33:17
You will grow in godly character as you strive to please Him. 1 John 2:17
You will be commended. Heb 11:4
GOD will make your enemies to be at peace with you. Pro 16:7
You will have eternal life and a place in His kingdom. Heb 11:5

Brethren, if pleasing Him will earn you eternity, why won't you live to please Him. Put yourself on the scale and see whether you are pleasing Him. Beloved, it is a good thing to do on daily basis.

Prayer.
Heavenly Father, endow me with all it takes such as the desire, the power and the grace to do what is pleasing to you always throughout my life-time in Jesus' name. Amen.