Do We Seek to Please God

Dear Brethren,

We say that we know God – but do we? How can we know for sure that we “know God?” Every personal decision that we make reveals whether or not we know God. We cannot know God until we have diligently sought God. How do we go about seeking God? We have Jesus’ example wherein He always did those things that pleased His Father (John 8:29). How could Jesus do that? The reason is because Jesus knows the Father, and the Father knows Jesus Christ (John 10:15). So, for us to please the Father we must know Him and do those things that are pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:22). “Whatsoever we ask, we receive of [God], because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) So, it is abundantly clear that we must seek to know and please God.

God says that there are few who truly seek to please Him. King David was inspired by Jesus Christ to write that almost no one understood or sought the true Creator God. “God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.” (Psalm 14:2, 53:2)

The problem is not only with those in the deceived world who would seek God on their terms, and not in obedience to God’s terms, but the problem is also with us when we fail to seek God. All too often, we in God’s Church say to ourselves, "I have found God" – when the Bible describes “seeking God” as a lifelong endeavor. No matter how long we have been members of God's Church, we can never cease drawing ever nearer to God. “Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” (Zephaniah 2:3)

Why do we seek God? We seek Him to truly be His children, to have a relationship with Him, to have eternal life with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, and to please Him. But, here is the incredible thing – we, who have been so graciously called by God the Father, are the only ones who can seek Him and draw near to Him. We alone of all His creation have the potential to have a relationship with our Creator God. No one can seek God unless he has heard the call of God (John 6:44, 65). For those unconverted people in the world, it is impossible to draw near to God. It is our obligation therefore that we do absolutely everything possible to seek to please Him.

For those whom God has called, it has become our highest priority to know God and His ways. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) God describes those who are not actively seeking Him as being morally wrong. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” (Psalm 10:4) Time is very short. Seek, look for, search, seek out and try to find out everything you can about how to please God while there is time and opportunity. “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) That means that for us to seek to please the Father, we must go through Jesus – that is, follow His words and live His way of life. When we deviate from obedience to His principles and standards, we make a wrong turn that will not take us to the Father.

As sinners, we had no relationship with, nor any way of finding God the Father. Let’s remember that it was our sins that separated God from us. How is it possible that we can once again seek and please God? “But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made near [to God the Father] by the blood of Christ… that He might reconcile [us] unto God.” (Ephesians 2:13, 16) It is only through Jesus Christ that we have access by one Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:18).

Not every person can please God the Father – that is a fact! God says to those who call His name by pretense, "Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: [Why?] Because that they hated knowledge, and did not choose reverence for the Lord: They would have none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the [bad results] fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whosoever hearkens unto me [seeks to please God] shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” (Proverbs 1:28-33)

On the other hand, there are some who seek the Lord and find Him. God says, “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." (Proverbs 8:17) "Evil men cannot understand judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things." (Proverbs 28:5) Here is the answer: "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." (James 4:8)

God offered this encouragement to His people, Israel, and now He offers the same advice to His spiritual children, the brethren in the Church of God: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven...” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Brethren, in baptism we were raised in Christ. Let us seek to please God by setting our hearts on things above – not on the cares of this world. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4) “If…thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29)

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Sermon:  "Do We Seek to Please God"
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