Pleasing God

Can we please God?

We often, rightfully so, focus on the grace of God, saying that we are not worthy of it nor able to earn it. Very true!

Sometimes, though, I wonder if we come away from all this with the idea that we cannot please God. From there is it a short journey to a short question. Why try?

This leaves us with what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called cheap grace.

"Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession . . . Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate."

The truth is we can please God and should strive to do so. It’s the right response to his grace.

Here are just a few, of many, verses that speak of pleasing God.

Ephesians 5:8-10 — 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.

Colossians 1:10 — We pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may PLEASE him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God . . .

2 Corinthians 5:9a — We make it our goal to PLEASE him . . .

That’s a good goal, one deeply rooted in God’s amazing grace.