Pleasure

Why do platypuses exist? Sea slugs that glow with neon lights? Tulips in addition to daffodils and lilacs? The Puya Raimonidii or Queen of the Andes that only blooms every 80-100 years? For God’s pleasure and in his wisdom, would answer Genesis and Job.

 

The intricate pattern of fiddleheads—his pleasure.

Some of the farthest known galaxies MACS0647-JD and GN-z11—his pleasure.

The rainbow mountains of Peru—his pleasure.

Humans? John Doe? You? I? –his pleasure. His delight. His recipients of love and the divine smile. Westminster Catechism sums up the profound fathomless answer of our existence as to glorify God and enjoy him forever. But surely it is reciprocal. Not that we can add a minutiae to the divine blessedness, not that he was lonely or needed but that is just who God is. One of the first things we learn about God from his revelation is, “He saw it was good.” Can you hear the divine pleasure? If the morning stars sang at creation and the sons of God shouted for joy (Job 38:7), would their joy be just a reflection of that greater Joy, that greater Perfection?  

Paul stated one of his chief goals, “we make it our aim to please him” (2 Cor. 5:9). His prayer, “so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way” (Col. 1:10). Is that my aim? Do we sometimes make God flat as if he is pleased by just the absence of something—just avoiding disobedience? Holiness is not a list of not.

How do we approach prayer? Do we go to our prayer and quiet time to get something, a release, a duty, so we feel better? Oh, not necessarily bad, for he is the Giver! And as John Piper says, he is glorified in his giving. But, but—oh, do we go for his pleasure? Do we go to spend time in praise, in being with him, in giving him delight?

But sometimes the lie of the enemy usurps—can you really give him pleasure? Would he really be pleased by your paltry time with him? Are you really worthy? Have you been walking in that worthy manner?  

But you are clothed with Jesus’ own garments. You are remade, being remade, in his own image (Col. 3:10). You are a child of God. How can he not be pleased with his own image? Like a mirror, when our attention is fixed on him, he sees his own beauty in us by the Spirit!

When Jesus stepped into the Jordan River of baptism, the Father’s voice in pleasure split through the heavens, a joy that heaven could not contain: “This is my Beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased!” The joy must have shook the galaxies father out than GNz-11, caused Judean tulips to spring forth in blushing delight. Jesus, baptized on our behalf, to identify with us. Jesus, to whom we are united. Jesus, with whom we were baptized, crucified, buried, raised. In Christ, all his is ours. In Christ, the Father loves us with the same love he has for Jesus (John 17:23). In Christ, we can hear the Father’s joy over us. In Christ, we can offer pleasure to our King, our Lord.

Oh, let prayer please him! Let us approach him with the intent to please him!

“Wonderful thought! that GOD should desire fellowship with us; and that He whose love once made Him the Man of Sorrows may now be made the Man of Joys by the loving devotion of human hearts.” ~ Hudson Taylor, Union and Communion

“Do we sufficiently cultivate this unselfish desire to be all for JESUS, and to do all for His pleasure? Or are we conscious that we principally go to Him for our own sakes, or at best for the sake of our fellow-creatures? How much of prayer there is that begins and ends with the creature, forgetful of the privilege of giving joy to the Creator!” ~ Hudson Taylor

“Jesus longs for his people much more than they long for him.” ~ Malcolm MacLean, Royal Company