With you I am well pleased

Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV)

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

We were made to please. It’s not uncommon to hear five-year-olds say, “See what I can do?” as the child hops or does a somersault. Or another may bring us a drawing and say, “See what I made?” We try to please our boss; we like to please our spouse. The desire to please was created in us.

Though we were first made good (Genesis 1-2), we fell into sin (Genesis 3). Then later we read the devastating news that God’s “heart was deeply troubled” because he saw how great our wickedness had become. Our thoughts, words, and actions were so sinful that God regretted having made us human beings (Genesis 6:5-6).

It wasn’t until Jesus came that God could finally say, “With him I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Jesus, who was the Son of God but was also completely human, pleased God!

Jesus loved to please his heavenly Father. Jesus said, “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him” (John 8:29).

What was it about Jesus that pleased his heavenly Father? Can you list some things?

In 2 Corinthians 5:9 Paul writes, “We make it our goal to please [Jesus].” How satisfying it would be to hear Jesus say to us at the end of each day, “With you I am well pleased!” What could we do today that would please him?

Dear Lord, as You pleased Your Father in all You said and did, may we please you in what we do and say each day. Amen.