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If Love is putting another above self, in an act of humility, it is beneficial for us to know what things please our God, so that we can put Him above ourselves...

What pleases God...?

God is pleased with Christ...
   Mark 1:11...And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

God is pleased to reveal truth to the least of us...
   Luke 10:21...At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

God is pleased to give us the lavishness of his kingdom...
   Luke 12:32..."Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

God is pleased to adopt us...
   Ephesians 1:4-8a...For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us.

God is pleased to reveal the mystery of His Son to us...
   Ephesians 1:8b-10...With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

God was pleased to give us Jesus...
   Isaiah 53:10...Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

God is pleased to give us salvation...
   I Corinthians 1:21...For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

God was pleased to reveal Himself and His Love through Jesus...
   Colossians 1:19-20...For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

God is pleased when one comes to Him in belief, and repentance...
   Luke 15:7...I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

God is pleased at the results of Christ's sacrifice...
   Hebrews 12:2...Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Joy is the very nature of God...
   I Chronicles 16:25-27...For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

God is pleased with the law...
   Isaiah 42:21...It pleased the LORD for the sake of his righteousness to make his law great and glorious.

God/Christ is pleased to intercede on our behalf...
   Hebrews 7:25...Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

God is pleased with His holy people, those that are set apart for His noble cause...
   Psalms 16:3...I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”

God is pleased to show mercy...
   Micah 7:18...Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

God is pleased to make Zion His dwelling place...
   Psalms 132:13-14...For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying,  “This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.

God is pleased with the well being of His servants...
   Psalms 35:27...May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.”



How can we please the Lord?

God is pleased when we yield ourselves to Him so that He can reveal Himself and His Love through our lives...
   Galatians 1:15-16...But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.

God is pleased when we do good and share with one another...
   Hebrews 13:16...And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

God is pleased when we remain in His Love...
   John 15:9-11...“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

God is pleased when we obey His commands...
   John 15:12-17...My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

God is pleased when we are presented faultless before His throne...
   Jude 1:24-25...To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

God is pleased with our integrity...
   I Chronicles 29:17...I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.

God is pleased with a living sacrifice...
   Romans 12...Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

God is pleased when we do not judge others...
   Romans 14:13-23...Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
 19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
 22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

God is pleased when we share Christ through how we live...
   II Corinthians 2:14-17...But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

God is pleased when we help others...
   Philippians 4:10-20...I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
 14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
 20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

God is pleased when we help those in our own families...
   I Timothy 5:3-8...Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. 8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

God is pleased when we do good works using the gifts He has chosen specifically for us...
   Hebrews 13:20-21...Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

God is pleased when we turn to Him and obey His commands with all our beings...
   Deuteronomy 30:1-10...When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the LORD your God disperses you among the nations, 2 and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3 then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes[a] and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. 4 Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back. 5 He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors. 6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. 7 The LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. 8 You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands I am giving you today. 9 Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors, 10 if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

God is pleased with those who fear Him, who hope in His unfailing Love...
   Psalms 147:10-11...His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

God is pleased with His people, with those who are humble...
   Psalms 149:4...For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

God is pleased with those whose walk is blameless...
   Proverbs 11:20...The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

God is pleased with those who are trustworthy...
   Proverbs 12:22...The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

God is pleased with those who really know Him, His kindness, justice, and righteousness...
   Jeremiah 9:23-24...This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.

God is pleased with faithfulness...
   Psalms 51:6...Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

God is pleased with mercy, and acknowledgment of God...
   Hosea 6:6...For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

Our evidence of pleasing God...

When we please God, we will learn who He is...
   Exodus 33:13...If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

When we please God, He will be evidenced in our lives to others...
   Exodus 33:15-17...Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
 17 And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

When we please God, we will be blessed...
   I Chronicles 17:27...Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”

When we please God, our enemy does not triumph over us...
   Psalms 41:11...I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.
Note:  Who is our enemy?
   I Peter 5:8...Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

When God is pleased with us, He disciplines us...
   Proverbs 3:11-12...My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Note:  Correction is rooted in delight/pleasure, it is not the result of being delighted in the offense, but rather taking delight in the one being corrected.