What pleases God? We might answer: being a good person, going to church, helping people, and so forth. Although a “good work” in and of itself does not bring displeasure to God, it is not, according to Scripture, what brings pleasure to Him. God is looking for those who will believe, rely on, and have confidence in Him. When He finds somebody who will believe, He is exceedingly pleased. The triune God wants the opportunity to prove that He rewards our quest of believing and seeking Him, by engaging us in an awesome and growing relationship. We must first believe that He exists-and then seek Him with our whole heart.

Furthermore, without belief in God, there is no faith, and without faith there can be no satisfying relationship with Him. God will always love us, even if we don’t have faith, because His love is unconditional. Nevertheless, when we believe and our faith is living, it brings delight and is pleasing to God.

“But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]” (Hebrews 11:9).