Of Praising and Pleasing God: Interconnected but different commands
Praising God and pleasing God are interconnected concepts but involve different aspects of our relationship with Him.
Praising God:
Praising God involves expressing our admiration, adoration, and gratitude towards Him for who He is and what He has done. It is an act of worship and reverence. Throughout the Bible, we are encouraged to praise God for His attributes, such as His love, faithfulness, power, and mercy. Praising God can be done through prayer, singing hymns and songs of worship, offering thanksgiving, and acknowledging His greatness. It is a way to honor and exalt God, acknowledging His sovereignty and the worthiness of our praise.
Pleasing God: Pleasing God involves living according to His will and aligning our actions, thoughts, and attitudes with His desires. It is about seeking to obey His commandments and walking in righteousness. Pleasing God requires surrendering our lives to Him, allowing His Holy Spirit to transform us and guide our choices. It involves living a life characterized by love, humility, integrity, compassion, and obedience to God's Word. Pleasing God is not about earning our salvation but responding to His grace and desiring to live in a way that brings joy to Him.
The relationship between praising God and pleasing God is that praising God is one way we can please Him. When we offer heartfelt praise and worship to God, it demonstrates our love and devotion to Him, and it pleases Him. However, pleasing God encompasses more than just praising Him. It involves our entire lives being oriented towards Him, seeking to honor Him in everything we do.
In summary, praising God involves expressing our adoration and gratitude towards Him, while pleasing God involves living by His will and seeking to honor Him through our actions and attitudes. Both aspects are vital in our relationship with God, as we seek to acknowledge His greatness and strive to live in a way that brings Him joy and glory.
As a Command
Yes, in the Bible, there are commands and exhortations for believers to praise and please God. While our relationship with God is based on love and grace, Scripture encourages us to actively praise and please Him. Here are a few examples:
- Command to Praise God:
- Psalm 150:6 (NIV) says, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."
- Commands to Please God:
- Romans 12:1 (NIV) states, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, because of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 (NIV) says, "As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more."
These verses, among others, highlight the importance of praising and pleasing God as part of our worship and daily lives as believers. While it is not a burdensome obligation but a response to God's goodness, love, and grace. We are encouraged to offer our praise and our lives in a manner that honors and pleases Him, recognizing His worthiness and desiring to align ourselves with His will.
Ultimately, the commands to praise and please God are invitations to enter into a deep and intimate relationship with Him, acknowledging His sovereignty, responding to His love, and allowing Him to transform us into His likeness.
