What spectacular thing had Jesus done by this point? Miracles? No. Healings? No. Turned thousands back to the Father? No. Yet the Father says this:

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

He hadn’t “done” anything yet. Except grow in stature as a young man, work hard and serve his family well. He had lived in righteousness and was connected with His Father. But glorious acts of ministry or works of God? We don’t know about a single one prior to this. Yet God says,

“with you I am well pleased.”

We so often think we have to do great things to get God’s affirmation and pleasure. But we forget that in Christ, we are his children. A loving parent loves their children.

We are loved by God.

We don’t need to do great things for God to earn his love. We have his love.

But what about our sins? Isn’t the Lord displeased if we are walking in sin?

Yes. But He is good and faithful. He loves us. It says if we confess our sins, in Christ he is faithful to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

My points is this: God’s pleasure in us is through our relationship with Him. Loving, pleasing, holy and righteous relationship. It is not our amazing works that make us pleasing. It’s us united with Him.