Matthew 3:17b “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
God says that He is well pleased with His Son Jesus. What has Jesus done to make His Father pleased? Jesus has not yet begun His ministry. He has done no miracles, taught no lessons, or trained any disciples. What Jesus had done was live an obedient life.
The Bible does not tell us what Jesus did before He began teaching. We are giving only the briefest of information about Jesus between His birth and His baptism. Other than He spent some time in Egypt before settling in Nazareth the only biblical account is of Jesus visit to the temple when He was twelve (Luke 2:41-51). We can infer that He lived an unremarkable life because neither the local people in Nazareth nor Jesus’ family expected Him to become a prophet/teacher (Mark 6:1-6 and Mark 3:21).
Jesus probably had not done any great thing to please His Father at this point in His earthly life. But then, God does not require great things. Obedience pleases Him. Sometimes when we are obedient God will do great things in us and/or through us, but greatness is not a requirement.
Too often Christians assume that God expects them to do some big thing. What God really wants is for us to obey His commands. The Bible tells us how to live. We should love God and our neighbors. We should consider others as more important than ourselves. We should not be anxious but trust God. Basically, we should read God’s Word and follow what He tells us through it. God will be pleased.
When we live an obedient life, we bless others with our attitude, ethics, compassion, mercy, and love. Non-Christians will get a glimpse of God in us. We honor God and advance His Kingdom just by living out God’s commands. God will be pleased.
Most importantly God is pleased when we have a relationship with him. We were created for a relationship with God. It is our main purpose for existence. I cannot comprehend why the awesome and infinite Creator of the universe wants to have a relationship with me, but the Bible says He does. When we have a deep, abiding relationship with God, He is well pleased.
Do not look to do great things for God. Just strive to live obediently and daily grow closer to your Heavenly Father. That will please God. Perhaps He will also call you to some great cause.
Heavenly Father, make me pleasing to You. Give me the strength to live obediently so that others will see You in me and I can bless others. Draw me close to You. Refine me so that no sin will hinder my relationship with You. Amen.