We as humans have a desire to please. Most often, our desire as men is to please other men. As Christians, however, our desire should be to please God over our fellow man. Paul writes in Galatians 1:10, “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ” (NASB). Thankfully, God does not leave us guessing about what is required to please Him. God’s desire for us is that we would obey Him.
In the Old Testament, God’s desire is told to Israel – “And now Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes…” (Deut. 10:12, NKJV). Even in the days of Ezekiel, God’s desire had not changed; He has always wanted man to follow Him that man might “live” (Ezek. 18:23). Although we are now under the New Testament (Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:14-16), God’s desire for us as His creation is still that we obey Him. We are told in 1 Timothy 2:4 that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Peter informs us by inspiration of the Holy Spirit that God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).
God’s desire for us as His creation is clear. God’s will is that we would obediently follow Him. God does not force our obedience, but He leaves the choice to obey up to us. If we desire to please God, we will diligently study His word so we might learn how to properly apply His word to our lives (2 Tim. 2:15). May we all strive to fulfill God’s will in our lives by obediently following Him.
By Preston McElyea (February 5, 2023)