Pleasing the Father in Spirit and Truth

The word “pleasing” is the Hebrew word ratson, which means having God’s favor, something that is pleasing, desirable, and being accepted. It is used in describing someone who has followed God’s instructions for worship; they were “accepted” by God. But it is stronger than that; they “please” the Father and give Him great joy and glory. The word ratson is key in learning to worship the Father in spirit and truth.

         The book of Proverbs majors on the wisdom and truth of God’s word and the importance of your words. Many of the proverbs address the power of your speech. Whole chapters in Proverbs are devoted to this subject. The sharp contrast between lying lips and lips that speak the truth are seen throughout the Proverbs. And when you speak the truth, it pleases the Father, “Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” Proverbs 12:22.

         The word “abomination” is the Hebrew word toebah, which means to detest, to abhor, to loathe, to turn away. It is used of unclean things in the Old Testament. It is the opposite of ratson. An interesting study is to identify everything that is an abomination and abhorrent to God. One is seen above; lying lips.

         There are different kinds of lies. One kind is when something false is spoken, intentionally. The author asked a group of children at a children’s camp setting, “Why does a person tell a lie?” One little boy spoke up and said, “To stay out of trouble.” We all know the logic of that lie. And then, one little girl said, “To make people feel better.” We have probably all been guilty of that type of encouragement.

Saying something that is not true is lying. This was the sin of the Pharisees and religious leaders in Jesus’ day. He called them hypocrites because they had the right words but the wrong heart. They were play actors with a mask of righteousness, but a heart of deceit. Then there is the lie of saying something, but not doing it. The word spoken is true, but the action is false. Jesus also spoke to the crowds about this kind of lying by the Pharisees when He said, “…so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.” Matthew 23:3. You may have heard the saying, “Practice what you preach.” And again, we have all known the deception of the talk without the walk.

This type of lying is what Proverbs 12:22 is addressing, the kind that speaks but does not do as compared to the one who speaks and then faithfully acts, which is like God. First God says it, then, God does it. And that is why God loves this in you because it reminds Him of Himself. God says it, then, He does it, every time, because God is faithful. What He says, He does. God acts faithfully and so when you do, it pleases Him.

This begs the question: So how can I act faithfully? The answer comes with a question: Act faithfully to what word, yours or God’s? A person can act faithfully to his own word and always be doing the wrong thing, always be doing things that are contrary to God’s word. These are the one who are faithful in sinning; they do it every time! But being faithful to God’s word is a different kind of faithfulness. God speaks, you hear and believe, and then God acts in you, with you, through you, as you, before Himself and the watching world around you. And He will do that every time you believe that what He says, He will do.

When you receive the word of God each day in your time with God, His Spirit begins His work in you and with you. And, “…he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6. Trust that God is doing it, but know that He will not do it without you.

One of my earliest memories as a child was watching my father, Dick Stahl, mow our back yard with one of those old turning-blade mowers. No motor, just a turning blade powered by the two wheels. As I watched from the back porch, it looked like so much fun. Suddenly he stopped and motioned me to join him. I jumped off the porch and ran as fast as I could, reached up and took hold of the handles and started mowing with my dad. As the cut grass flew up on my legs it felt so cool. We were mowing the grass. I felt like such a big boy, so good. And daddy was enjoying it too.

So who was mowing? Me? You better believe I was. I had the cut grass on my legs to prove it. Was he? Oh yeah he was. He was doing all the pushing and I was having all the fun. But it was also work for me. Its not easy holding on to those big handles so far above your head. But I didn’t mind, didn’t even notice. I was mowing and I was with the one I loved so much while doing with him what only he could do.

This is what your Father desires. He wants you to see and hear His invitation to join Him in what He is doing. As you do, it pleases Him. He is the one doing the work, but not without you. He gets the glory because only God can do what pleases Him. But you get the joy of being with Him and sharing in the love He has for you, His child. This is what it means to worship the Father in spirit and truth. And it pleases Him when you do.