God-Pleasing Sacrifices

God-Pleasing Sacrifices                                     September 27, 2026

“Jesus therefore said, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man (on the cross), then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.  And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.’” (John 8:29)

The prophet Isaiah prophesied that the coming Messiah would be a man who would be despised, rejected and forsaken of men.  Also, He would be well acquainted with grief and sorrow and when men would see Him, they would hide their face from Him (Isaiah 53:1-12).  Yet even in this lonely state of rejection this Messiah wanted all mankind to know that He was never alone for as long as He did what was pleasing to the Father then His Father was always with Him (John 8:29).  The only exception to his not being alone was when He bore the sins of the world upon Himself when he was nailed to the cross.  It was here that Jesus experienced extreme loneliness at its worst and thus His words, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).

As Jesus noticed, pleasing God was not always easy without experiencing much opposition and ridicule.  Yet, it was His goal and desire in life above all else.

Well, what about our goals and desires in life?  If we shrink back from living a life of faith then we know that God will not be pleased with us (Hebrews 10:38; 11:6).  If we preach a different gospel than what God gave us in order to please men (tickle their ears) then we cannot be a true bond-servant of Christ (Galatians 1:6-10; I Thessalonians 2:4).  Also, if we live according to the flesh rather than the Spirit then we cannot please God (Romans 8:1-11). 

Solomon says, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7).  The Hebrew writer tells us to “not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).  Receiving the answers to our prayers is conditional upon us keeping God’s commandments and doing the things that are pleasing to Him (I John 3:21-22).  Those who strive to please God will always be the winners.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable (pleasing) in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer” (Psalms 19:14).

Brian Thompson