12/20/2019
Are you afraid of disappointing Jesus? At the end of the day, as you prepare to pray, do you find yourself asking if you have done, said, or acted in any way that would disappoint our Heavenly Father? Perhaps you have become so confident in your righteousness that this thought doesn’t cross your mind... but it should.
“And as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?"”
Matthew 26:21-22 ESV
My morning prayers are quite extensive, and they cover many topics. Some of the things I pray are new, some continuing in nature, but there are many that are relevant each and every day. One of those that concerns me each day is whether I have been a disappointment to my Father, or if I will displease Him today. One of my greatest desires, and deepest longings is to please God, and Jesus.
“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 ESV
Each day after I have asked for forgiveness I pray concerning God’s pleasure in me. I do this by praying in this way...
“Father, let nothing I say, do, or write, be displeasing to you; let all my actions today be acceptable in your eyes, and bring you pleasure. Let nothing in my life disappoint you in any way.”
Pleasing God should be paramount in our lives. Why else was it that the affirmation of God’s pleasure in Jesus was the first thing mentioned when Jesus rose from the waters of baptism, and the only thing God said at that moment which was written?
“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."”
Matthew 3:16-17 ESV
Oh how every one of us should long yo hear those words! How incredibly satisfying that moment must have been to Jesus, but before God could say this Jesus had to do the will of God, and please His Father in every way. Listen to what He says about this...
“And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him."”
John 8:29 ESV
God isn’t with us because He must be; no, He is with us because it pleases Him to be. He is with us because He loves us, and we love Him. God’s pleasure in us is rooted in love, and flourishes in our obedience to His will. Our fear should always be in not loving and being loved by Him always. This is the tap root of God’s pleasure, and Jesus tells us so... “for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
“His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.”
Psalms 147:10-11 ESV
So, obedience is important, but do we get so wrapped up in it, and concerned with the negative ramifications of not doing God’s will , that we neglect the reason why we should obey Him in the first place? Are we so fearful of the punishment that we forget the love, and the longing for our Father to be pleased with us? Jesus began His ministry with God announcing His pleasure in Him, and Enoch ended His; but all their days were consumed with pleasing God. Is this your desire?
“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Hebrews 11:5-6 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the love you show me, and the will you have for my life. Thank you for allowing me to love you Heavenly Father, and for speaking to me in your Holy Word about how I can please you. Hear my prayer each day as I ask for you to strengthen my faith, and for my faith to bring forth a deep seated longing to please you more with each breath I take. Father, let nothing I say, do, or write, be displeasing to you; let all my actions today be acceptable in your eyes, and bring you pleasure. Let nothing in my life disappoint you in any way. Holy Father let me be a joy to you, and cause you to smile upon me. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who loves me and seeks your pleasure in me. Great are you who sent Jesus to redeem me, and to demonstrate to me that you take pleasure in your children. Wonderful are you who expressed your pleasure in Enoch, and gave me hope through him that a man might please you so perfectly. All glory is yours Father through the mercy, and grace, that it pleased you to deliver through Jesus. Help me to please you now, and forevermore Lord, that I might be with you always, and be the focus of your love and attention in eternity.
“and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”
1 John 3:22 ESV
Rich Forbes