A Genuine Desire to Please God

“I do nothing of myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:28-29).

Jesus did everything out of pleasure for his heavenly Father. It is important to understand the motive out of which our obedience springs, because if our heart is not pure, everything will be polluted.

Consider the father of a teenage son who has to correct his child. The scenario may be tense as the father confronts his son about bad companions, bad behavior, careless choices. And then the father issues an ultimatum: either change your behavior or find another place to live. The son responds in one of two ways: he submits to the correction with a contrite spirit and changes his behavior willingly or he begrudgingly changes his behavior in order to avoid the punishment.

The obedience of a disgruntled child is not satisfying because his compliance stems from a fear of his father’s wrath. There is no pleasure or love in the action; on the contrary, he is angry and frustrated because he perceives that his father is infringing upon his freedom and trying to cramp his lifestyle.

The sad truth is, many Christians in these last days obey God only because they are afraid they will go to hell if they don’t. They fear the Father’s wrath and their obedience to him is “legal” only. They have no genuine desire to please him.  

Jesus’ desire to please his Father came out of his relationship with him. He shut himself up in prayer and his one great prayer was, “Father, what do you want? What will bring you pleasure? What can I do to fulfill the desire of your heart?”

That is the attitude of the person who has the Spirit of Christ!