God’s Love and Justice (Lesson 3) To Be Pleasing to God

WHAT PLEASES GOD?

God loves us far deeper than any human can ever love us. His love is so deep and so wide that it cannot be measured.

Like a child who loves their parents and desires nothing more than to please them, how can we please God?

Welcome back to our new series:  God’s Love and Justice.

God is love. How we understand this affects our relationship with God.

Misunderstandings about God’s love leads to feelings of unworthiness, which can harm our relationships with Him and others. (Pause)

His love is far greater than the defective idea of ” love “commonly observed today.

We will, therefore, seek to discover the beauty and depth of divine love, addressing such questions as:

Is God’s love emotional?

How does His love relate to justice?

Can we reject His love?

If God is love, why is there so much evil in the world?

How can we be assured of being in the right relationship with Him?

 As always, before we begin, let’s Pray.

Holy Father, we love you and desire nothing more than to please you; show us what pleases you and help us put it into practice in our daily living; in Jesus’ name, Amen.

God’s Love and Justice

(Lesson 3)

Pleasing to God

Part 1 Introduction

Have you ever wondered what truly makes God happy? Is it our words, our gifts, or something more?

In fact, the way we treat others is a reflection or mirror of our relationship with God.

God’s love for us teaches us to love and care for one another.

Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that,

“The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17, NKJV).

Can you imagine that? Can you see the comfort in these words? They remind us that God takes joy in us.

He fights for us, loves us deeply, and even rejoices over us with singing. But how do we reflect this in the way we live?

Let’s think about  Father’s Day for a moment. A little five-year-old boy gives his dad a gift.

The wrapping is messy, but the child’s face glows with excitement and anticipation.

The father opens the gift, but instead of smiling, he says, “Son, I don’t like this.

Besides, anything you give me comes from what I already own.

 It’s useless and worthless. I don’t need it or want it. But I still love you anyway.”

How does that make you feel? Words like heartless, “mean,” or “cold” might come to mind.

Thankfully, this isn’t how God responds to us. He doesn’t dismiss our efforts or gifts, no matter how small or imperfect.

It might seem hard to believe, but even though we are imperfect, affected by sin, and often make mistakes, we can still please God!

You see, God doesn’t look at us or the things we offer Him in a negative way like a strict and unloving father might.

Instead, through Jesus, we can be pleasing to God. God loves us unconditionally and delights in what we bring to Him when we offer it with love and sincerity.

In fact, the Bible assures us of God’s unshakable love.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

This verse is the heart of the gospel:

God gave His very best—His Son—to save us. This act wasn’t just an obligation; it was pure love.

God’s love for us is unmatched. It isn’t just words; it’s action. God didn’t stop at saying He loves us. He showed it by sending Jesus to die for our sins.

This wasn’t an easy decision. Heaven gave everything so we could be saved. That’s love. (Pauser)

This love shows us how to treat others. Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). How do we show this love?

Read Luke 15:11-32

Then continue to Part 2: More Valuable Than You Can Imagine

God’s Love and Justice

(Lesson 3)

To Be Pleasing to God

Part 2: More Valuable Than You Can Imagine

Have you ever felt like you’ve gone too far to be forgiven?

Or maybe you’ve looked at someone else and thought, “They’ll never change.”

God’s love is bigger than our mistakes, and His mercy is greater than our judgment.

The story of the lost son shows us how God loves each of us, even when we wander away.

God’s love is for everyone, and there is no one, not even the worst sinner or the most evildoer, that God does not love.

He values us humans more than we can possibly imagine.

But let’s be clear—while God loves us deeply, He hates sin because He knows how harmful it is to us.

The story of the lost son, in Luke 15:11–32, often called the prodigal son, is a powerful reminder of God’s mercy and a warning for those who think they’re “safe” because they never disconnect entirely from God.

In the story, Jesus talks about a younger son who asks his father for his inheritance. Normally, an inheritance is given after the parent dies, but this son couldn’t wait.

By asking for it early, he showed that he rejected his father and his family. With his pockets full of money, the son left home. While away, he wasted everything on reckless living and ended up poor and starving.

He was so hungry he envied the pigs, who had more to eat than he did.

That’s when he thought of home. Realizing that the servants in his father’s house have more than far more food than he, the son decides to go back home, not as a son but as a servant.

He knew he didn’t deserve his father’s love anymore, but he hoped for a place to work and enough food to survive.

What happened next was nothing short of amazing.

Jesus tells us in Luke 15:20, “‘ ²⁰ So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  (Luke 15:2).

Some fathers might refuse to take a son like that back. They might say,

“You took what was yours and left. Now you think you are grown. So, now that you are grown, you don’t belong here anymore.”  

Some parents might see the son’s actions as too bad for him to be welcomed back, especially as part of the family.

In those days, it was unheard of for a man of the father’s status, the Master of the house, to run out to meet someone.

But, in the parable, the father (representing God Himself) does not respond negatively to his son.

Luke 15:20 says: “ ‘When [the prodigal son] was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him’ ” (Luke 15:20, NKJV).

This father, filled with love, mercy, and compassion, ran to meet His son.

He didn’t scold him or make him earn his way back into the home.

Instead, he hugged him, kissed him, and welcomed him home as his son.

He even threw a big celebration on his behalf for his return home.

This is the kind of love God has for us—a love that welcomes us back no matter how far we’ve gone.

God is delighted even when one single person returns to Him.

But the story doesn’t end there. There’s another part that speaks to those who seemingly never leave God, the “older so.”

When the older brother found out about the celebration, he was angry.

He couldn’t understand why his father would forgive and honor his wayward brother.

Instead of joining the celebration, he stayed outside, grumbling and complaining.

The father came out to talk to him, saying in Luke 15:31,

“Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine” (Luke 15:31).

The father reminded him of the privilege of always being close to him, but the older brother’s heart was full of pride and resentment.

He saw his service to his father as a burden rather than a joy.

 The book, Christ’s Object Lessons says: “When the requirements of God are accounted a burden…we may know that the life is not a Christian life. True obedience springs from the love of righteousness” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 97).

Serving God isn’t about checking off duties or earning rewards; it’s about loving Him because He first loved us.

The story leaves us with questions: Did the older brother realize his jealousy and repent? Did he see that his brother, though sinful, was still his brother?

Jesus doesn’t give us the answers because He wants us to think about our own hearts.

Will we welcome others with the same love God shows us, or will we let pride and judgment block our mercy?

This story teaches us two powerful lessons. First, no matter how far you’ve strayed, God is waiting to welcome you back with open arms.

Second, if you’re someone who has never left, don’t let pride or judgment keep you from celebrating when others return to God.

True obedience comes from love, not obligation.

Read Zephaniah 3:17  to obtain greater understanding of how God responds to His wayward children.

Then, View the next segment of this video, Part 3: Rejoicing with Gladness

God’s Love and Justice

(Lesson 3)

To Be Pleasing to God

Part 3: Rejoicing with Gladness

Have you ever felt so much joy that words couldn’t fully express it?

That’s how God feels when one person comes back to Him. His love is deep, His mercy is wide, and His joy is overwhelming.

The Bible uses stories and word pictures to help us understand God’s love and His delight in His people.

Every person who has ever lived is precious to God. That’s why He rejoices when even one soul returns to Him.

Zephaniah 3:17 gives us a glimpse of this joy, saying:

17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17).

This verse is rich with emotion.  With no denial, it shows the delight of God over His redeemed people.

 It uses almost every Hebrew word for “joy” and “delight.” It’s as if no single word can capture how God feels when His people return to Him.

The verse tells us that God is “with” His people. Just as the father in the story of the lost son ran to meet his returning child in Luke 15:11–32.

Isaiah 62:4 gives us another beautiful picture of God’s love. It says:

⁴ You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the Lord delights in you, And your land shall be married. (Isaiah 62:4).

In this case, God uses the image of marriage to describe His relationship with His people.  Isaiah says:

 they will “be called Heph-zi-bah,” which means “My delight is in her,” and the land will be called “Beulah,” which means “married.

 This shows us that God’s love is not distant or casual. His love is personal, committed, and full of joy.

God’s greatest joy will come on the day of restoration when He welcomes His people back to Him.

On that day, He will celebrate and rejoice over us, just like the father celebrated when his lost son came home.

The Bible goes even further to compare God’s love for His people to the love of a husband for his wife.

Ephesians 5:25–28 tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church:

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,  (Ephesians 5:25).

Ephesians 5:28

²⁸ So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. (Ephesians 5:28)

This love is selfless, sacrificial, and pure. A husband is called to care for his wife as he would his own body.

In the same way, Jesus loves us as part of Himself. His sacrifice shows how far He is willing to go to bring us back to Him. (Pauser)

Isaiah 62:5 beautifully describes this love saying: “As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee” (Isaiah 62:5). Pause

Ellen White points out that this is the ultimate celebration—the marriage supper of the Lamb, where Jesus will welcome His redeemed people to His Father’s house.

In Revelation 19:6–7, John writes: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.”  (Pause)

What a day of joy that will be!

But this joy isn’t just for the future. It’s something we can share now. We are reminded that, “It should be our aim to bring all the pleasantness possible into our lives, and to do all the kindness possible to those around us.”

Kind words and loving actions are never wasted. They reflect the character of Jesus, who gave Himself as an offering so we could be made pure and acceptable to God.

When we show kindness, love, and tenderness, we reflect God’s character to the world. This is what it means to be His representatives—to live in a way that others see His love through us and are drawn to Him.

So what is Pleasing to God?  Read Isaiah 43:4; Psalm 149:4; and Proverbs 15:8, 9 Then, continue to the next segment of this video, Part 4: Pleasing God?

God’s Love and Justice

(Lesson 3)

To Be Pleasing to God

Part 4: Pleasing God?

What Really Pleases God? What really makes Him happy? Does He smile when we sing, pray, or give offerings?

The Bible lets us know that God takes joy in those who love Him and lives in a way that reflects His character.

But how do we please God, especially when we’re not perfect?

Yet,  the God of the universe finds joy in being with us -tiny, short-lived human beings on this one small planet in an endless universe?

How is it possible that we could mean so much to the All-Powerful God of the Universe who doesn’t need anything?

These questions can be looked at in two parts:

 First, how can God be delighted? And second, how can we, as sinful humans, bring Him delight?

The first question is addressed in this segment, and the second question will be addressed in the next segment.

The Bible tells us something beautiful about God in Isaiah 43:4: (Pauser)

⁴ “Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. (Isaiah 43:4 NKJV).

It’s incredible to think that the Creator of the universe sees us as valuable.

God doesn’t need anything from us, but He treasures us deeply. Why? Because He loves us and wants the best for us.

But what does this mean for how we live? What brings joy to God? (Pauser)

Psalm 149:4,  says, “The Lord takes delight in his people. He honors those who are humble and saves them” (Psalms 149:4 NLV).

God’s joy comes from seeing His people live humbly and seek Him. He loves it when we go to Him with our needs and trust Him with our lives.

 Proverbs 15:8–9  says: “The Lord is pleased with the prayers of those who do what is right. But the Lord hates the sacrifices of the wicked” (Proverbs 15:8-9 NLV).

 This verse is clear—God doesn’t delight in offerings or sacrifices made by people who choose to live in disobedience.

What makes Him happy are the prayers and lives of those who walk in His ways and follow His Word.

On the other hand, God is unhappy when His people do evil. Proverbs 15:8–9 says,

“The sacrifice” and “the way” of wicked people are an “abomination to the Lord,” but “the prayer of the upright is His delight,” and “He loves [the one] who follows righteousness” (Proverbs 15:8–9 NKJV).

This lets us know that God isn’t just displeased by evil—He also takes joy in goodness.

It also shows a strong connection between God’s love and His delight, which we see again and again throughout the Bible.

Does this mean God only loves people who are righteous? Not at all.

Psalm 146:8 reminds us:  

“The Lord loves the righteous” (NKJV).

And 2 Corinthians 9:7 adds:

“God loves a cheerful giver” (NKJV).

These verses show us that God’s love is for everyone, but He takes special delight in those who live with kindness, generosity, and a heart that seeks Him.

Proverbs 15:8, 9 helps us to see that God loves these and others in the sense of being pleased with them.

⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. 

⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves him who follows righteousness. (Proverbs 15:8-9)

Think about this: God’s love is like a good parent’s love for their child. Parents love all their children, but when a child listens, obeys, shows love, and respects the family’s values, the parent feels an extra sense of joy.

That’s how God feels about us. He loves everyone, but He’s especially happy with those who reflect His character by how they treat others.

When we are going through tough times, this truth can give us hope. Heaven and earth are connected by God’s love.

No matter how hard life gets, we are precious to Him. He hears our prayers and delights in our faithfulness.

Knowing that God values us so much should inspire us to value others the same way.

How we treat others with kindness, forgiveness, and generosity is a true test of our relationship with Him.

So, here’s the question: Are you living in a way that brings joy to God?

Make it your goal to show kindness and love to others.

Pray for them, help them, or simply share a kind word.

When we treat others with love, we not only please God, but we also reflect His love to the world.

Now to the second question: How could humans bring God delight, particularly given our sinfulness?

 Read Romans 8:1 and Romans 5:8. Then, continue to the next segment of this video: Part 5:  Living Stones

God’s Love and Justice

(Lesson 3)

To Be Pleasing to God

Part 5: Living Stones

—–àHave you ever felt unworthy of God’s love? Do you ever wonder how a holy God could accept sinful beings like us?

How can we be pleasing to a Holy God?

The good news is that God’s love and mercy are bigger than our failures.

He made a way for us to be accepted—not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus has done for us.

We are all sinners. That’s a fact we can’t deny. But how can a perfect and holy God accept people who fall short every day?

The Bible gives us the answer in Romans 5:8:

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).

Before we ever make a move toward Him, God takes the first step.

He offered us His mercy while we were still deep in sin. This shows us how much He values and loves us.

Before anything we say or do, God reaches out to us and gives us the opportunity to accept or reject His love.

In Romans 8:1, we’re reminded of the result of this love:

¹ There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1).

When we accept Jesus, God wipes away our guilt. He doesn’t see our sin; He sees His Son’s perfect life covering us.

This is the foundation of our faith: Jesus took our place, and through Him, we are accepted and loved by God.

Jeremiah 31:3

³ The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. (Jeremiah 31:3)

By faith through the work of our Redeemer, we can be reunited to God and become pleasing in His sight.

But how can we make God happy when we’re so flawed? 1 Peter 2:4–6 gives us insight:

I Peter 2:4-6

⁴ Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 

⁵ you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

⁶ Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”(I Peter 2:4-6).

Without Jesus, our efforts fall short, yet He accepts our offerings because of His sacrifice.

At the same time, faith is essential. Hebrews 11:6 says,

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6).

The point is that faith is not just a feeling; it is an action in which we push our trust in God, even when we don’t fully understand.

Faith leads us to live in a way that honors Him and shows His love to others regardless of who they are or how they are.

God doesn’t stop at just saving us. He transforms us.

Hebrews 13:20–21 assures us of this saying:

²⁰ Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 

²¹ make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 13:20-21)

Jesus not only makes us acceptable to God, but He also works in us to help us live holy, loving lives.

Ellen White writes in Sons and Daughters of God, “Everything that God could do, He has done to manifest His great love and mercy” (Sons and Daughters of God, p. 53).

God doesn’t just leave us to struggle alone. Through Christ, we are adopted into His family. Heavenly angels fight for us, and we are never abandoned in our battle against sin. Knowing this, we can rest in His love and draw closer to Him by faith.

The plan of salvation didn’t start when humanity fell—it was prepared before the world began.

God’s plan was to unite fallen humanity with divinity through Jesus.

When Jesus took on human nature, He bridged the gap between us and God. This makes it possible for God to love us as He loves His own Son.

Because of Jesus, we are not only saved but transformed.

1 John 3:2 tells us,

² Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (I John 3:2).

He transforms us into his likeness; read 1 Corinthians 15:51-57.

This transformation is God’s work in us, making us holy, loving, and ready to live with Him forever.

God’s redeeming work is not only for us but is also in us.

The idea that God loves us so much, even when we fall short, should fill us with hope.

Jesus is working right now in heaven, interceding for you and me.

Remember, how we treat others reflects our relationship with God. Let His love shine through you, and watch how it changes your life and the lives of those around you.

How much faith is necessary to please God?

Read Mark 9:17–29. Then, continue to the next segment of this video, Part 6: A Worthy Goal

God’s Love and Justice

(Lesson 3)

To Be Pleasing to God

Part 6: A Worthy Goal

Is our faith enough? Are we worthy of God’s love or His promises?  (Psurt)

The good news is God doesn’t wait for us to be perfect before He accepts us. Even the smallest faith connects us to His love and power.

God is delighted when we accept His love, even with weak and imperfect faith.

He alone is holy and worthy of love. But here’s the beautiful truth:

When we believe in Jesus, God accepts us as holy too. We become His children, heirs of eternal life, and participants in His perfect love.

But what happens when our faith is small? Does God still accept us?

In Mark 9:17–29, we find a powerful answer.

A father comes to Jesus, desperate for help. His son is possessed by a demon, and Jesus’ disciples have failed to drive it out.

Everyone is losing hope.

²³ And Jesus said to him, ” ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”(Mark 9:23).

The father responds with a cry from the heart: “I do believe; help my unbelief.” ” (Mark 9:24).

Notice what Jesus doesn’t say. “Come back to me when you have more faith.” Instead his cry, “ ‘Help my unbelief,’ ” was enough.

He doesn’t reject the father for having weak faith. Instead, He accepts the father’s plea and heals the boy.

This shows us that even the smallest faith placed in Jesus is enough.

Hebrews 11:6 reminds us:

⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

 But our faith doesn’t have to be strong—it just needs to be genuine.

When we trust in Jesus, even with weak faith, we please God. Like a loving father who cherishes a simple gift from his child, God delights in our efforts to trust Him.

Paul encourages us in 2 Corinthians 5:9-10:

⁹ Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 

¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.(Corinthians 5:9-10)  Pleasing God isn’t about perfection; it’s about living in faith and love.

Colossians 1:10

¹⁰ that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

I Thessalonians 4:1

¹ Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; (I Thessalonians 4:1)

And, Hebrews 11:5

⁵ By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5)

But how do we live this out? Romans 12:10–13 gives practical guidance saying:

¹⁰ Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 

¹¹ not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 

¹² rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 

¹³ distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. (Romans 12:10–13).

God calls us to care for others, to share their burdens, and to reflect His love in our relationships.

We are reminded in the book The Desire of Ages that when God spoke to Jesus at His baptism, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17), He was also speaking to us.

It says, “With all our sins and weaknesses, we are not cast aside as worthless. . . . The voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul, ‘This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased’” (The Desire of Ages, p. 113).

In other words, God’s love embraces us, even in our brokenness. Faith connects us to this love and gives us the strength to face life’s challenges.

“It is faith that connects us with heaven, and brings us strength for coping with the powers of darkness” (The Desire of Ages, pp. 428, 429).

When we feel weak or unworthy, we can pray like the father in Mark 9:

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Jesus accepts this prayer and draws us closer to Him.

Living in faith also means treating others with kindness and understanding.

We are challenged  to follow the Golden Rule: “In your association with others, put yourself in their place. . . .

Do to them as, were you to exchange places with them, you would wish them to deal with you” (Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 134, 135).

This is the essence of loving others as Christ has loved us.

Faith isn’t about having all the answers or being perfect—it’s about trusting Jesus, even when you feel weak.

When we place even the smallest faith in Him, He accepts us, works in us, and helps us reflect His love to others.

Let’s pray for stronger faith and look for ways to serve those around us.

 Remember, how you treat others is the true test of your relationship with God, and it is the way we please Him.

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