His Heart, My Home

Let’s do some soul-searching this week. Let’s ask ourselves, “Am I pleasing to the Father? Does He delight in me?”

The answers to those questions require our being totally honest with ourselves. Many of us might answer, “No, I’ve made too many mistakes. I have too many shortcomings. I’ve failed God too many times. He’s not pleased with me.”

That may be our answer, but it’s the wrong answer. Let’s look again at what happened when Jesus was baptized by John in the river Jordan.

⁹ “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ Immediately coming up out of the water, he (John) saw the heavens torn open, and the Spirit like a dove descending on Him (Jesus); ¹¹ and a voice came out of heaven saying: “You are my beloved Son, in you I am well-pleased and delighted!” (Mark 1:9-11, Amplified Bible)

The Father specifically chose this moment to publicly show His approval of Jesus.

● Jesus was immersed in the river (representing His death and burial). We died with Him and were buried with Him.

● Jesus was raised from the river (representing His resurrection). We were raised from death to life together with Him.

● At that very moment, the Father expressed His approval through: 1) His voiced affirmation of Jesus as His well-pleasing Son, and 2) Holy Spirit’s abiding presence upon  Jesus.

● Likewise, the Father expresses His joy, delight,  and approval of us as He welcomes us into His family, and as Holy Spirit comes to live within us.

“Behold my Servant, whom I uphold, my elect in whom my soul delights! I have put my Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice and right and reveal truth to the nations.”
(Isaiah 42:1, Amplified Bible Classic Edition)

The cost of the transaction that led to our salvation was incredibly high. But the Father considered the treasure that was gained as immensely more precious.

Jesus endured great physical and spiritual agony in His redemptive work for us. But the Father, seeing through the eyes of faith,  rejoiced, knowing that we, the Church, would be the ultimate fruit of His suffering.

The Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit all agreed that the eternal reward of having a resurrected family was more than worth the temporary suffering, anguish, and heartache of the cross and the grave.

“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.”
(Isaiah 53:10)

“… Because His heart was focused on the joy   of knowing that you would be His, He endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation,  and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!”
(Hebrews 12:2, The Passion Translation)

“That’s the way God responds every time one lost sinner repents and turns to Him. He says to all His angels, ‘Let’s have a joyous celebration, for the one who was lost, I have found!’ ”  
(Luke 15:10, The Passion Translation)

Wow! A celebration in heaven for just one! Now, consider heaven’s joy over a single new birth multiplied exponentially by Jesus’ bringing “many sons” to glory! (Hebrews 2:10)

And Father-God foreshadowed it all at Jesus’ baptism!

No wonder the Father tore open the heavens in joyous celebration!

No wonder He voiced His pride in His Son and in the millions who would respond to His love, accepting His gift of eternal salvation!

No wonder Holy Spirit chose this moment to anoint Jesus for the beginning of His ministry and His mission! (Luke 4:18-19)

Back to our original question to ourselves: “Am I pleasing to the Father? Does He delight in me?”

YES! YES! And YES! And He previewed it all for us in the waters of a River called Jordan.

Knowing now, with certainty that we are already pleasing to the Father, independently of our performance, what do we do? How do we respond appropriately to His love, mercy and grace?

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
(Romans 12:1)

“… dedicating all of yourselves, set apart, as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God…” (Romans 12:1, Amplified Bible)

The root of the word translated as “acceptable” in this verse is the Greek word “aresko” which means “to be agreeable; to be in harmony.”

We dedicate ourselves to the Father by agreeing with His Word, and by yielding to His Spirit, as He brings us into harmony with His “good, and acceptable, and perfect will” for our lives.
(Romans 12:2)

“…it is God who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.”
(Philippians 2:13 Amplified Classic Edition)

When we yield fully to Him He creates the desire within us to do His will. He will then empower us to speak words, to take actions and to choose outcomes that perfect His plans and purposes for our lives.

● It is pleasing to God when we submit our lives to Him so that He can bring healing and harmony to our blindness and brokenness.

Isaiah 55:11 – “… my Word… shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in  the  thing for which I sent it.”

● It pleases God when His Word produces life and fruitfulness in us.

Hebrews 11:6 – “… He is a rewarder of those who diligently (by faith) seek Him.

● It pleases God when we live by faith.

John 4:23 – “… the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 

● It pleases God when we worship scripturally (in truth) and worship spiritually (in our entirety).

2 Samuel 7:29 – “… let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue before you forever… “

● It pleases God to bless our families.

1 John 3:22– 23 – “… whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandment and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another…”

● It pleases God when we trust in Jesus and walk in love.