Key Text: Proverbs 10:1 – (NKJV) A wise son makes a glad father…

If we agree that God knows everything and God is never taken by surprise by anything or anyone, then He can hardly be impressed by anyone. Yet, the bible is filled with examples of God taking note of individuals, recognising and rewarding their actions.

I have been brought up with the notion that God is not impressed by anyone, that we really do not need to seek to impress Him, and I still believe that, but I have a very different understanding of this now. God loves us unconditionally. God is pleased with us, not because we did anything right or wrong, but because we simply believe in His Son, Jesus Christ and that is all. We can’t impress God, yet we can please Him. We can’t earn His love, yet we can make His heart glad. We can make His heart rejoice.

Let’s look at an example from the bible. In Numbers 25:7-13, we read the story of Phinehas a grandson of Aaron. Numbers 25:6-13 (NKJV) .

7 Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel. 9 And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.

10 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 11 “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal. 12 Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; 13 and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.’ ”

God noted his actions and made a covenant of peace with him and his generations. Was God impressed? Was God pleased? Whatever your verdict, God was moved to act. He noted this young man and his act.

Proverbs 27:11 ‘My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him who reproaches me.’

God looks and notices our actions and though what we do does not alter His unwavering love for us, our actions can gladden His heart or sadden it.

Since our relationship with God through Christ is a loving one, then it is only right for us to seek to please and gladden the heart of the One we love.

Today, just think about what you can do to make God smile. That’s it in a nutshell, tomorrow we would look at this more deeply.

Let’s Pray: Father God, thank you for loving me unconditionally and eternally. Because of this great love, I want to always bring joy to your heart. Grant me the simple understanding that Your heart can be gladdened by my actions. This I ask in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.