by Magdalena Kessy | 16 July 2018 08:46 pm07
Bible References: English
“Blessed be the name of our Lord Jesus Christ forever.”
Many believers assume that God is only pleased with us when we begin to actively serve Him through preaching, evangelism, intercessory prayer, or church ministry. While these are all important, we must ask: Does God only become pleased with someone once they begin public ministry?
To answer this, we must look at Jesus Christ, our ultimate example. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus said,
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (ESV)
Before Jesus began His public ministry, before He preached a sermon or performed a single miracle, we read in Mark 1:11:
“And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’” (ESV)
This declaration from the Father happened at Jesus’ baptism, before He had performed any outward ministry. This shows us a profound truth: God was already pleased with Jesus not because of His works, but because of His life and obedience.
Jesus was about 30 years old when He began His public ministry (Luke 3:23). For three decades, He lived a private, quiet life. Most of that life is not described in detail in the Gospels, except for His birth (Matthew 1–2; Luke 2) and a visit to the temple at age 12 (Luke 2:41–52).
Yet, it was during this quiet, uncelebrated period that God declared Jesus pleasing. This teaches us that faithful living in the unseen places matters deeply to God.
The Apostle Paul echoes this in Romans 12:1–2:
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (ESV)
True worship is a life that is holy and pleasing to God not just religious activity.
Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew 1:1–17 contains rich spiritual truths. The line from Abraham to Jesus includes people whose lives foreshadowed Christ’s character and mission. For example:
Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22) – Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his only son prefigured God the Father offering His Son. Isaac carried the wood for his own sacrifice, just as Jesus carried His cross.
King David – Though anointed as king, David endured hardship, betrayal, and rejection before reigning. His life mirrors Jesus, the Son of David, who also suffered before entering His glory (Luke 24:26).
Jesus’ genealogy shows us that God’s work is often hidden before it is revealed. His kingdom begins in humility and grows in grace.
Jesus affirmed that His entire life His suffering, death, and resurrection was foretold in the Old Testament:
Luke 24:44–46 (ESV)
“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.’”
Many Psalms capture the emotional and spiritual battles Jesus faced:
These passages reveal that Jesus’ suffering and obedience were known and prophesied long before they happened. His rejection by His own family and people was not accidental it fulfilled Scripture.
The prophet Isaiah foresaw how Jesus would be misunderstood and rejected:
Isaiah 53:2–3 (ESV)
“He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”
Despite this, Jesus was beautiful in God’s sight because of His holiness and obedience. He did not pursue worldly success, wealth, or even marriage. He lived solely to do His Father’s will (John 4:34).
He owned no home (Matthew 8:20), held no political office, and gathered no army. Yet His life changed history.
The life of Jesus teaches us that God is pleased not by titles or talents, but by hearts that love Him and lives that obey Him. He is watching how we live in the everyday how we respond to hardship, how we love others, how we pursue holiness.
Like Jesus, we are called to live lives of quiet faithfulness before being elevated by God:
1 Peter 5:6 (ESV)
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.”
Don’t wait to be a preacher, worship leader, or church elder to live a life that honors God. Start now. Obedience in the present prepares you for calling in the future.
God’s words to Jesus are available to all who live faithfully:
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” — Matthew 3:17 (ESV)
The question we must ask ourselves is this:
Am I living a life that pleases God today in my thoughts, relationships, and daily choices?
Jesus didn’t wait for the crowds to follow Him to be holy. He lived in obedience long before the spotlight. So should we.
Let us not delay holiness. Let us not wait until we’re in a pulpit or ministry position to take God seriously. Now is the time to live a life that honors and pleases God. For in due season, He will lift up those who walk faithfully before Him.
May the Lord help us all.
Be blessed.
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