How to Please a Perfect Father
How to Please a Perfect Father?
Matthew 3:16 – As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
God is a good Father. A good Father loves his children. That doesn’t mean that He loves everything His children do. He has consistently made it clear some things we do are not pleasing to him. We should be glad about this. We should hope He isn’t pleased with injustice, selfishness, greed, oppression, and evil that produces unnecessary pain in the world. Which means we should hope he isn’t pleased with the selfishness in our hearts or the selfishness we act out.
I love my kids and will love my kids no matter what they do or don’t do. But it does not please me when the son I love lies to me. It doesn’t please me when the daughter I love talks back disrespectfully. It’s possible for me to love them wholeheartedly and not be pleased with everything they do. If I am pleased with things that are bad for my kids, that would make me a bad father.
God is a good Father. Therefore, He cannot be pleased when we do things that are bad for ourselves and each other. God’s love for his children is unconditional, but that doesn’t mean He is pleased with everything we do.
God was pleased with Jesus when he was baptized by John the Baptist. What was so special or pleasing to God about getting baptized? At this point Jesus had not accomplished anything great or out of the ordinary, yet his Father was pleased. Jesus had not raised anybody from the dead, not healed any sicknesses, not given any sermons.
At this point Jesus was pretty much a regular ol’ dude. A carpenter. We might expect the Father’s response to be something more like:
“Ok boy, don’t let me down.”
“Let’s see if you can measure up.”
“Pressure’s on now.”
This was the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. There was a lot on his shoulders. His Father’s praise might seem more expected at the completion of it, after accomplishing everything in his Father’s will. What was so pleasing about being baptized?
Jesus was baptized by John. John’s baptism was one of repentance. Acts 19:4
Repentance is about direction. Life is filled with different directions to pursue. Different dreams to chase. Repentance is about pursuing God and trusting in His ways. Baptism is a public declaration of an inward willingness to change or be changed.
God was pleased with Jesus. Not because of what he had done. Because of what he was about to do.
Pleasing God is not about where you’ve been. It’s about where you go from here.
It’s not about what you’ve been chasing in your life, it’s about what you’re aiming at now.
It’s not about what you’ve done. It’s about what you’ll allow God to do in you and through you.
It’s not about having it all figured out. It’s about admitting that you don’t.
It’s not the completion of a life of accomplishments. It’s the beginning of a new life of greater purpose.
It’s not about going your own way. It’s about trusting in His.
God works in the lives of individuals.
In the lives of individuals who allow God to work in their lives.
When Jesus was baptized he was basically saying, “Ok Father, I’m all yours. Use me. I trust you.”
This pleased his Father.
When you say, “Ok Father, I’m all yours. Use me. I trust you.”
Your father will be pleased.