Luke 9:35 (KJV)
And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Our anchor Scripture shows how God was pleased with His Son, Jesus Christ. As the Son draws near to the Cross, the Father again speaks a clear fatherly word of love and approval over Him, just as He had declared His love for His Son at the outset of His public ministry, at His baptism. Jesus was all out to do His Father’s bidding, and God Himself testified of Him, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” God is the Owner and the Giver of life, and the purpose God gives us life is to please and glorify Him. God created us for His pleasure with our lives; we should not live to please ourselves. Living to please God is a lifestyle of holiness, joy, happiness, satisfaction, sacrificial giving, prayer, praise, and worship of God. Revelation 4:11 says, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure, they are and were created.” In whatever area of service, recognize that we are to render that service to the Lord. Our focus should be Heaven’s testimony about us, not people’s thoughts. When pleasing the Lord is our main motive in Christian service, we will always be concerned with how the Lord feels about our service. The Bible says Jesus Christ received honor and glory from God the Father (2 Peter 1:17).
The primary focus of Christian living and service should be to please the Lord. God is pleased when we act in obedience to His commandments. When we live according to the revealed will of God, He confirms His acceptance and approval. As children of God, Heaven must affirm our claims that we belong to God and are His ambassadors on earth, just as God testified to the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ by speaking from Heaven and demonstrating His Power through Him. To be acceptable to God as beloved sons or daughters is not an easy task. It requires total submission to the Will of God and obedience to His Commandments, and it translates to living our lives to please God in all ramifications. As Christians, we do not live to please society or the devil; we only live to please God, our Maker. Many are more interested in pleasing man than God. They bring agony to God through their lifestyles; they live to please a man and disobey God. Some people go to church or do things for God to receive the recommendation of men; we cannot but pity their lack of understanding. Others are ready to please God when the price is affordable, cheap, or convenient. The whole world may approve of us, but God may disapprove of us due to our lifestyle. It is disastrous when God disapproves of anyone, so live to please Him alone.
Beloved, can God call you this day, my beloved son or daughter in whom I am well pleased? How does God feel about your conduct? Are you giving God pleasure or causing Him pain with your life? Is God proud of you or ashamed of you? The truth is your life is either giving God excitement or causing Him embarrassment; your life is either a source of pleasure or pain to God. Today, seek the testimonial of Heaven, and your struggles to make it in life will become a thing of the past. If you are serving Him, serve Him well because you are either for Him or not. Be more serious with God in this season and beyond. Be on fire for Him because when it comes to the things of God, you cannot be lukewarm. Make holiness your lifestyle and dedicate yourself to God in true worship, submitting yourself totally to His Will. Live not as a sin-ridden son of fallen man but as a reborn child of the Most High God. I pray that by serving Him faithfully, you will receive honor and glory in the Precious Name of Jesus.
O Lord, help me not to cause You pain with my lifestyle, but give me the grace to bring You pleasure and excitement in Jesus’ Name.