The Difference Between Love and Pleasure

Key Verse:
“For I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” – Jeremiah 31:3 (NKJV)

God’s love for us is constant, unchanging, and everlasting. It is not based on our performance or our behaviour-it flows from His nature. As Jeremiah 31:3 reminds us, He has loved us with an everlasting love and draws us with His kindness. However, while God’s love is unconditional, His pleasure in us is not. Many believers live with the assurance that God loves them, but they have yet to understand that not everything in their lives brings Him pleasure.

This distinction is important in our walk with God. Love is God’s posture toward us, but pleasure is His response to our obedience. A person can be deeply loved by God and yet not be walking in a way that pleases Him. Just like a parent loves their child regardless of behaviour, but only finds pleasure when that child lives in a way that reflects their values, God looks for lives that align with His will.

We must not confuse God’s unwavering love with His approval of our actions. He loves the world, but there is a special delight He takes in those who walk in obedience, humility, and faith. Scripture is full of examples where God’s pleasure is tied to specific responses-faith, obedience, and holiness. When we choose to live according to His Word, we not only enjoy His love but also experience His favor and nearness in a deeper way.

Living to please God doesn’t mean striving to earn His love-it means responding to it. We don’t perform to be accepted; we obey because we are already accepted. And in that obedience, we unlock a fuller, richer relationship with God. It’s not about trying to impress God; it’s about honoring Him with a life that reflects His heart. Those who make it their aim to please Him will find themselves walking in deeper fellowship and greater intimacy with the Father.

Let this be your prayer and pursuit: not only to rest in the certainty of God’s love but to walk in a way that brings joy to His heart. When you make pleasing God your desire, you begin to experience more than just His love-you begin to walk in the fullness of His favor.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for your everlasting love for me. I acknowledge that your love for me is unconditional, but I also desire to live in a way that brings you pleasure. Help me to recognize the areas of my life where I can please you more and to align my actions with your will. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.