2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Jeremiah 16:16-18:23 ESV, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:3 ESV, Psalm 81:1-16 ESV, Proverbs 25:6-8 ESV
Daily Verse: “Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1 ESV)
ARESKO (700): “This word signifies “to be pleasing to, be acceptable to.”[1]
Signifies acceptable.
Paul wants the Thessalonians to grow spiritually; he knows they must change their ways for that to happen. Instead of living to please themselves, they must put God first. Pleasing God means acceptable actions in His sight.
In order to please God, you must first know what He desires. To find out the Creator’s heart, we must spend time getting to know him. Like any relationship, the more time you spend together, the more you know about the other person. Knowing more means pleasing more.
Learn God’s ways.
When I first started reading the Bible each year, I didn’t know nearly as much about God as I do now. Even after decades of reading Scripture each morning, God still surprises me. Inevitably, whatever the situation, something in God’s word speaks to it and gives me direction.
“Little House on the Prairie” remains my favorite childhood show. One episode which impacted my life involved Caroline, the family matriarch. Alone at home, she got a nasty infection in her leg. Not knowing what to do, she read her Bible, finding a verse discussing cutting out the infection. And so she did, inevitably saving her life.
Pleasing God means putting into action what His word says to do. When Jesus entered the world, He brought unconditional love never before seen. Loving others for Jesus will challenge you, but remember, Christ went first.
Please God by spending time with Him each day. Develop a relationship with the Creator and align your heart with His. Pleasing God will grow you spiritually like nothing else and lead to everlasting peace.
[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 41) Thomas Nelson
