Is God “well pleased” with me? I know that God isn’t perfectly satisfied with and delighted by everything I think, say, and do. However, I also know that He consistently loves me, even when I displease Him.
I believe that the belief that God is well pleased with me is dangerous. It can quickly lead me to the self-righteousness and pride of the Pharisee who believed that he was a good person and looked down on others as bad people.
A voice came from Heaven and said that God is well pleased with Jesus, but I don’t think God said that about anyone else in the Scriptures. To be well pleased with someone implies approval of their thoughts, feelings, desires, and behaviors. The prophet Isaiah said: “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and God has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all.” If God was well pleased with us, then Jesus wouldn’t have needed to sacrifice His life for us.
In some of my thoughts, feelings, desires, and behaviors I am living in ways that please God (and I should “do this more and more,” see 1 Thessalonians 4:1) but definitely not in all of them. I haven’t yet arrived at a heart, a mind, and a lifestyle that fully pleases God. I desperate need His mercy, forgiveness, conviction, and presence to continually show me where I am not pleasing Him and empower me to please Him “more and more.”
God loves all people and His heart breaks over our rebellion and disobedience to Him. He loves us and through the blood of Jesus He has made a “new and living way” through the veil that separates us from Him so that we can live in His presence throughout each day. However, when we avoid Him, ignore Him, shut down our awareness of His presence, or quench the Holy Spirit (even for an instant), He isn’t pleased.
Paul prayed for the Colossians (1:10) that they would “live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way.” However, I don’t know of anyone (besides Jesus) who has ever pleased Him perfectly.
I thank God that I don’t have to please Him perfectly. I thank Him for continually showing me so gracefully and tenderly areas when I am not pleasing Him.
If you have the risen Jesus crowded out of your life, make some room so He can step in and display His glory within you and through you. Mobilizing the masses of Christians to flow with the gifts and fruit of the Spirit has been the missing ingredient in the body of Christ ever since the institutionalization and formalization of church. Get going!
The cure for spiritual smothering
Is humble Spirit-led one-anothering:
“Love one another,”
“Teach one another,”
“Comfort one another,”
“Build one another up,”
“Pray for one another,”
“Exhort one another,”
“Encourage one another,”
“Look to the interests of one another,”
“Submit to one another,”
“Serve one another,”
“Bear one another’s burdens,”
“Care for one another,”
“Confess your faults to one another,”
“Forgive one another,”
“Be kind to one another,”
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