Being Pleasing To God

Hebrews 13:16
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Hebrews 11:5-6
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

I read the first Hebrews passage this morning and it struck me that "doing good," and "sharing" were deeds that we either do or don't do. And whether we do them or don't do them, either pleases God, or displeases God. 

I put the second set of verses from Hebrews above because I searched that word "pleases," and found that it is only used three times in the Bible. Once in Hebrews 13:16, once in 11:5, and once in 11:6. Enoch was a man in early Genesis who walked with God. God was pleased with him. Then in the 11:6 passage we learn that it is impossible for us to please God apart from faith. Which would mean that even our "doing good," and "sharing," are displeasing to God if we don't do them in faith. 

It brings me joy this morning to ponder that God is pleased with the things I do. Yet it is also fearful to think he is displeased over things I do as well. Amazing that the Creator of all the universe is pleased by the things humans do by faith. This truth is a far cry from the blind watch-maker idea of God; where he created the universe, spun it in motion, and is now nowhere to be found, having nothing to do with his creation. No, God is watching over our every deed, pleased by every action  that is done by faith.

God is a God of pleasure and personality. Just like you are pleased or not pleased by the actions of your kids, God is pleased or not pleased by the actions of His kids.