From Acceptance to Approval: Living a Life That Pleases the FatherSample

THE CALL TO PLEASE THE FATHER

There is a divine call upon every believer's life: to move beyond simply being loved by the Father into a life that pleases the Father. Christianity begins with God's unconditional acceptance, but it must not end there. God's goal is not just to fill heaven with children; He desires sons and daughters who give Him pleasure through their lives. In Matthew 3:17, the Father spoke audibly concerning Jesus, declaring, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Notice it was not merely “This is My Son” but “in whom I am well pleased.” This two-fold declaration reveals the Father's plan for every believer: first, to be born into His family through salvation, and second, to grow into a life that reflects His heart and pleases Him.

From the day you surrendered your life to Christ, you were accepted into God's family by grace. However, the journey must continue beyond that. God’s pleasure in your life is not automatic; it is cultivated through obedience, surrender, and a deliberate pursuit of His will. Jesus, though eternally beloved, demonstrated through His earthly life and choices that He was fully aligned with the Father's desires. Today, many believers remain in the realm of acceptance — enjoying the blessings, but never progressing into the realm of divine approval. Beloved, divine pleasure is not a mystery; it is the reward of a heart wholly yielded to God. The story of John the Baptist seeing the Spirit descend upon Jesus in John 1:32–34 teaches us that it is by divine revelation we come to know the true identity of a son who pleases the Father.

I want you to learn that the Father is searching not just for worshippers, but for sons and daughters whose lives are a sweet-smelling savour unto Him. A Christian life that stops at acceptance will remain shallow and vulnerable, but a Christian life that matures into pleasing the Father will experience depths in God that words cannot describe. It is time to embrace a higher call. It is time to live for the Father's joy, not merely for your blessings. You are beloved already; now, you must grow to become a delight to His heart. May your journey with this devotional mark a turning point for you, as you rise beyond acceptance into divine approval!

THOUGHT TO PONDER: Are you content with merely being accepted, or are you pursuing the path that brings pleasure to the Father? What steps will you take today to start growing beyond acceptance into divine approval?

PRAYER: Father, thank You for loving me unconditionally and accepting me into Your family. I ask for the grace to grow beyond mere acceptance. Teach me to surrender my will, align with Your purposes, and manifest the fullness of my sonship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.