Love and prayer makes it possible
“...but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what the Father has commanded me.” (NIV) John 14:31
A poster at a taxi rank at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana proclaims "True love is when you stay up at night to study to give your parents a wonderful retirement". How true? This is the power of love. It can make us do what seems undoable. Thus love is the basis of obedience to God. It is the basis of pleasing God. No wonder the Lord Jesus answered the inquiring lawyer this way "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all our soul and with all your mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment..." Matt. 22:37 (NIV). The Lord Jesus loved his Father so much and pleased him so completely that God the Father said it publicly at least twice during Jesus' ministry on earth-"And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son whom I love; with him I am well pleased" Matt. 3:17 (NIV) and “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"” Matt. 17:5 (NIV). To have a parent declare in public how much they love you and how you please them is great!
The Lord Jesus is therefore our model and finest example of successfully pleasing God. He did this as the Holy Spirit has so kindly recorded in the Bible, by loving his Father and doing exactly what his Father has commanded him. "O Lord Jesus help us to be like you".
The Lord did not take things for granted but kept in close contact with God in prayer. He spent whole nights praying alone, and also woke up at dawn to pray alone – “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God - Lk. 6:12 (NIV). He prayed during his baptism (Lk. 3:21) and prayed at the transfiguration (Lk. 9:28 and 29). We know he prayed to be able to obey His Father's command to go to the cross, which is what he did in Gethsemane – “On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation," He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.” Lk. 22:40-43(NIV). He thus advises his disciples, including us, to pray not to enter into temptation. It is better not to be tempted at all than to be tempted and be in danger of falling. However, if the temptation or trial has to come, then we have to pray for supernatural strength to overcome. God sent help to Jesus in Gethsemane and he was able to go to the cross to win eternal salvation for us.
In our effort and desire to please God out of our love for him, Jesus has shown us a sure resource, prayer, to be able to be victorious over temptation and obey God in everything. Jesus loved God and was able to please him by perfect obedience. Despite all his mighty power and strength, he did not rely only on himself, but prayed to be able to do what is right. Therefore, we should emulate Christ and pray ceaselessly to do the right thing and please God.