2 Corinthians 5:9 (AMPC), “Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him.”

One can’t become a person who pleases God by accident, it’s something that is done deliberately. Paul reminds us of the central goal of the believer’s life: to live in a way that pleases God. The context of this verse focuses on the sure hope we have because we belong to God - we are going to live with Him for eternity! While we live here, in our temporary earthly bodies, or in heaven with our new, glorified bodies in the future, we live on purpose, with the full intent to please Him! And we certainly have every reason to do so! When we consider all that He has done to save us, redeem us, and restore us to a life that is overflowing with His love, peace, joy, and power - how could we not desire, above all else, to please Him? The Bible says He knew us before the foundation of the world! He already planned out a path that would be specifically tailored to our well-being and good success. Proverbs 3:2 tells us following after His ways leads us to a life that is well worth living! “For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you.” Pleasing God has everything to with us trusting that our life yielded and devoted to Him offers us far more than living it on our own terms. It pleases Him when we see Him as our reward. It pleases Him when we rely on His power and strength to walk in His ways so that we benefit from them. In truth, He doesn’t want to see us live a single part of our existence independent from Him - because He made us, is constantly thinking good things about us, and unconditionally loves us.  His desire is for us to intimately know Him. To live, move and have our being - in Him. It pleases Him to have us constantly delight in Him and experience the love He has for us. Jesus said we are loved by the Father - just as He is!  To live in a way that we are constantly mindful of God’s love and goodness towards us, and to acknowledge and embrace all we have through knowing and being in Him - causes us to live a life that reflects that love, through our willing obedience to Him. This enriches and fully benefits us - and it pleases Him. How can we not want this more than life itself?