Jesus always worked to please His Father. John 8:29 “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” When He was on the mountain of transfiguration, “a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’” (Matthew 17:5b) As Jesus worked to please His Father, you too should seek to please God your Father.
First of all, if you are without faith, you cannot please God. Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” If you are fleshly minded, you cannot please God. Romans 8:7-8 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
If a boy is trying to please a girl that he likes, he will avoid doing things that he knows she disapproves of and he will do things that he knows makes her happy. In the same way, when you seek to please God, you should avoid doing things that you know He disapproves of and seek to do those things that you know make Him happy. Let us look at some things that we are told please God.
Being fruitful in every good work pleases God. Colossians 1:10 “That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
When you obey God’s commandments found in the Bible, you please Him. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 “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; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.” 1 John 3:21-23 “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 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, as He gave us commandment.” It seems that having true love for your fellow Christians is especially pleasing to God.
Praising and thanking God, doing good to others and sharing with others pleases God. Hebrews 13:15-16 “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Make it your goal in life to please God. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
I encourage you to continually seek ways to please your God. Ephesian 5:8-10 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” (NIV)