And find out what pleases the Lord. –Ephesians 5:10
As a believer, you should expend your time trying to find out that which the Lord delights in. You should examine and search diligently what God has revealed to be his will. The above scripture is quite unambiguous but is a stepping stone in helping us to have a proper relationship with Christ. The bible here instructs us to find out what pleases God, and what is interesting is that you can only know or find whatever pleases God from the bible. In essence, this verse is telling us to study scripture and to apply it in our daily lives. In doing this you are in a right standing with God thus you experience God’s favor and God’s blessings in your life. Here are just two things that will surely please God; Faith and Obedience.
Faith
In Hebrews 11:6, we are told that without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. The first verse of Hebrews 11 says that faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Faith can also be described as a firm persuasion and expectation that God will perform all that he has promised us in Christ Jesus. Faith goes hand in hand with hope and trust and God really wants us to have hope in him and trust in him fully. By doing this, you please the Lord.
Obedience
Obedience is dutiful or submissive compliance to the commands of one in authority, in this case to God. God delights in us when we submit to his commands and authority. In 1 Samuel 15:22, we are told that to obey is better than sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of rams. The LORD does not delight in burnt offerings as much as in obeying him. King Saul in this scripture had just disobeyed God’s commands and was offering sacrifices thinking that God would be pleased with him simply because he offered a sacrifice. But, God rejected the sacrifice and also rejected him as king because his heart was in the wrong place. It was like a guy insulting and disrespecting his girlfriend and never saying sorry to her for it, but he gave her chocolates. God is no different. He wants obedience and sincerity of heart not just a sacrifice of worship on Sundays. He wants all of you Monday-Sunday and doing it with a clean focused heart. Obedience is better than sacrifice.
If you desire to have a peaceful, prosperous and quiet life, just find out at all costs what pleases the Lord. Seek to know and to do his will. In fact, the Lord says if you seek him, you will find him. Once you please the Lord you also find favor in his eyes.
