EPHESIANS 5:10

“as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”

Some people are “people pleasers.” They’ll do just about anything to make you happy. That is okay unless it becomes unhealthy for you. I’ve seen that happen, and it’s not good. You may have heard also about people who have a “pleasing personality.” They get along with others well. That’s a good trait to have. But what is Paul referring to in today’s verse?

The phrase “as you try to learn” is the Greek word dokimazo. It means to prove what is good. Try that definition in the verse. Then it would read, “as you prove what is good in pleasing the Lord.” We want to make sure that we know what is good, what is well pleasing, what is acceptable. Right?

APPLICATION

I have a friend who writes daily devotional thoughts. Her words today fit this verse. “We do well to remember, that our ‘sacrifice of praise’ within the ‘fires of affliction’ is a sweet aroma, pleasing to the Lord Jesus. It indicates that we believe what He has allowed is for our best interest – even in the direst of circumstances.”

It is easy to focus on pleasing the Lord and doing all the right things when things are going well. But when the hard times come, and they will, are you able to focus on pleasing Him? This doesn’t mean you have to “do” things for Him to please Him. It means living your life as a reflection of Him. The writer of Hebrews says it well in Hebrews 13:20-21. “20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

How can you please Him today? Don’t think about what you need to do. Think about how you need to live. When we walk in the light, we have fellowship with the Father. Live today with your motive being to please Him in all that you do.

O Lord, I want to please You in each and every thing I do.