“…and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17 ESV)
The Father was well pleased with His Son, Jesus, our Lord and Savior. It had to have meant something for Jesus in terms of affirmation as He prepares to begin to obediently begin His earthly ministry. And, it has to provide validation for we who have now heard about this expression voiced out of the heaven. Let’s think about being pleased with our children.
Aren’t you pleased when your child does something that makes your heart overflow with happiness? Sure, it might be something like academic success or achievement in their chosen field or accomplishments that make you feel more than pleased; actually make you proud. But our children also please us in very many ways and they don’t have to be necessarily great feats in the eyes of others or glowing deeds that produce a sense of gratefulness to the Lord for blessing you with your offspring. When our children speak a word of gratitude, recognizing the sacrifices we have made and the lessons in life we taught them by word or action, that pleases us, the parents, just as much as children who have risen to positions where they speak with delegated authority. When children voluntarily see themselves as helpers and not the ones to be helped; that pleases parents just as much as hanging their diplomas on the wall! When our children call at any hour of the day, just to check on you after they have reached the status of adulthood and you have reached the unavoidable status and blessing of reaching the aged known as seniors, well, truthfully that pleases you just as much as knowing your child is receiving sizeable checks for their work in elevated occupations. Seeing our children integrate the Biblical principles that you trained them up in, that is just as pleasing as a child advancing to be a trainer in the corporate world. So, one of the things I want you to put on your “things to do list” today is to send a message or call your child or children and tell them that you are well pleased with them for the positive things they have done! Build up their self-esteem and in doing so encourage them to do even more to please you and the Lord our God.
Here is another thing I want you to do today. Recognize that regardless of your age, you must remember you are a child of God. So let’s not only start the week by trying to make our Father well pleased, but let’s continue throughout the week in all that we do; things minor or things major. Get started now and be blessed!
“Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.” (Colossians 1:10-12 MSG)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King