2 Corinthians 5:9 – Accepted by Him

2 Corinthians 5:9
⁹ Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. (NKJV)

“Wherefore we labor” the King James Version translates the Greek word “philotimeomai.” It’s made up of two words meaning “love of honor.” I don’t think Paul is referring to any honor he receives. I think he is saying it is the love of honoring Jesus that drives his ambitious itinerary.

In previous verses, Paul speaks to the idea of being either absent from the body and present with the Lord. Paul’s conclusion, it doesn’t make any difference. He will do what he is doing until the Lord comes to get him.

Paul’s desire is to be “accepted” (KJV) by the Lord. This acceptance has nothing to do with trying to get God to accept us. He has already accepted us. Look at Ephesians 1:6 where he says, “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the beloved.” This is not working to find a place of acceptance.

However, because we love to honor Him, we try to do things that please Him. We are not trying to impress Him. We simply want to please Him. That is our aim, our ambition. It’s like a child who loves his father and knows his father loves him so the child wants to do things that please him. This is the opposite picture of a father with arms crossed just daring the child to try to please him.

I remember when our youngest grandson was coloring with the other two grandkids and he could hardly scribble a line on the page getting nowhere near the picture. His mom says “Good job.” She was just as proud of his drawing as the others. He was happy that his drawing pleased his mother.

^“6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). God is truly pleased by faith. Faith is simply believing and trusting in Him. It is accepting the finished work of Jesus and resting in His grace. Let’s please Him by trusting Him for every need.