Things that Make God Happy

When we think of God, our first thoughts may go to His holiness and power. Although we know that He consists of so many more strengths and characteristics, those and perhaps a few more would be only the ones we are capable of thinking of. Eternity will bring before us a perpetual revelation of all the dimensions of God’s essence.

Added to all of these things is the fact that God has emotions! We know this because we are emotional beings! After all, we have been created by God in His image, which means that the emotions we have are reflections of His. Albeit sadly, ours have been tainted by the ravages of sin!

So when we think of the emotions of God, our first thoughts might be of God’s love, or His wrath! It is true of course that God has a heart of love and compassion, which is in response to the helplessness of our sinful condition, as well as the emotion of wrath triggered by the exceeding wickedness of wilful godlessness.

But there are other emotions that our God has, like that of sorrow, pain, grief, or happiness, delight, and joy!

It doesn’t take too much imagination to understand what makes God sad and sorrowful, but what makes Him happy?

Maybe this is just the right thing to think about at this time of the year, especially when there are so many things happening that make us sad or anxious. So let us take a few minutes to look at a few Bible references that tell us what makes God happy.

Back in the beginning of creation we read that after each day of creation except for only one, God saw what He had done and “it was good.” This tells us that what He had done was a task that made Him pleased. When He had finished His marvellous creation “[He] saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 2: 31.

Some time after the fall of Adam, some seven generations later, there was a man called Enoch of whom the Bible tells us that “He walked with God.” Genesis 5: 24. This is an expression of someone who gave to God great pleasure. In the book of Hebrews ch. 11 we are told that: “he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Enoch was a man of faith, and this is what was pleasing to God as we are told: “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (:6.)

The Bible records the lives and testimonies of men and women of God through whom He was able to express Himself.

🔸 There was the likes of “Abraham [who] believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” (James 2: 23.)
🔸 There was David of whom God said: “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” (Acts 13: 22.)
🔸 There was John the disciple of Jesus who wrote about himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” (John 21: 7.) We find that he mentions this five times in his gospel account! He wasn’t suggesting that he was favoured more than the other disciples, but that he appreciated so very deeply that he was loved by the Lord, and couldn't help but express that!
🔸 Then of course there was Mary of Bethany! She was the woman “which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.” (Luke 10: 39.) And having done so she learned exactly how to show her appreciation of her beloved Lord in just the way that mattered most to Him. (See John 12: 1-7.)

These people and many more brought warmth and joy to the heart of God, and as we read about them we see that their lives and testimonies were an example to ourselves. Their interactions with God help us to understand how to walk with Him and how to bring Him pleasure.

However, the ultimate delight God derived from anyone that walked on earth was in the Person of His beloved Son!

This sinless, spotless, Man brought joy like no other to His Father from the moment of His conception. And when He was born God sent a heavenly host to proclaim His arrival to a group of humble shepherds. Such was the joy that the Saviour was born into the world that heaven could not refrain from “praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest …” (Luke 2: 13-14.)

When He was only twelve years of age His heart was set on pleasing His Father. After accidentally leaving Him behind while heading back home after the Passover feast, His folks had to return searching for Him, and found Him in the Temple in deep conversation with the doctors. His reply to their anxious hearts was: “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” (Luke 2: 49.) He knew who His Father was and how to please Him!

Just before His public ministry began, and just before He went to the cross to atone for our sin, God opened the heavens and declared that “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3: 17 & 17: 5.) In recognition of His faithful life hidden before His public ministry, and then in recognition of His faithfulness during those three years of faithful ministry, and most probably in anticipation of the mighty work He was about to accomplish at the cross, God expressed His absolute delight in His precious Son.

Everything about this 'altogether lovely' Man was the exact expression of God's character. “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.” Colossians 1: 19

And so we have thought for a little while about a few people who made God happy, and we thought about the ultimate Man who knew how to fill the heart of God with great delight. But where does that leave us? Is there anything that we could do to reach the heart of the One who is almighty, holy, powerful and pure?

Seeing as the Bible tells us that any righteous act on our part amounts only to ‘filthy rags’ in God’s estimation, it has to be something more than what we can merely do!

The reason why Jesus came in the first place was “to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1: 15. And as accepting our position before a holy God with a holy reverence and genuine humility we place ourselves in a place of favour because:

It is His pleasure to reconcile people like us back to Himself who were separated from Him because of our sin. In fact, this is what motivated Him to go all the way to the cross to endure the shame and suffering in our place. We can move forward with confidence that we will soon be brought into the presence of the God of mercy whose pleasure it was to redeem lost souls like ourselves.

God is a God of joy and delights, and desires that His joy be of mutual benefit and pleasure for His people here and now …

… And, there and then in heavenly places …