How can I please and honor God?

'How can I please and honor God?'

— Hebrews 11:6

Every believer is concerned about this question. I do not think it is beyond reason or revelation to say that this is the heart and desire of every child of God. While we live in this world, we want to please and honor the God of all grace. Is there any clear, biblical answer to this question: ‘How can I please and honor God?'

Many tell us that in order to please God we must physically separate ourselves from the world. Every believer understands that God’s children are to be separate and distinct from the unbelieving world. We live by principles, motives and desires that the world can never comprehend. But if all it takes to please God is to alter our dress code, change our outward habits and live in seclusion from the world then anyone can please him. It takes only self-discipline, not grace. Moralists and monks have been doing these things for centuries.

Others tell us that to honor God we must live by the law of, God. It is true, if anyone could live by the law, God would be please with him, for that man would live in sinlessness and righteousness. He would be a perfect man. But God can never be pleased with a mere attempt to live by the law, no matter how sincere that man may be who tries to do so.

Some tell us that the way to please and honor God is to live a holy life. That would be a great thing. But who can do it? Of course, everyone has his own standards of holiness. Some even think they really do live in holiness. But the only true standard of holiness is God himself’. When holiness is understood, we see the utter futility of trying to perform holiness for ourselves.

We do not need to search for an answer to this question: ‘How can I please and honor God?’ We need not be confused by the confused opinions of men. The Lord has not left us in darkness. We please God and honor God by faith. All who believe Christ, trusting his righteousness, his blood, his providence, his grace and his intercession please and honor God, for God is pleased with his Son.