People in the Bible Who Pleased God – Solomon

    Solomon was “young and inexperienced” when he was given the task to build the temple and be the anointed king over Israel (1 Chronicles 28:2-7; 29:1, 21-24), so his father David encouraged him to “be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God – my God – will be with you…” (1 Chronicles 28:20). Moreover, David prayed that God would give Solomon a loyal heart to keep His commandments, His testimonies, and His statutes, to do all these things, and to build the temple (1 Chronicles 29:19).

    The LORD promised to establish Solomon’s kingdom forever IF Solomon was steadfast to observe His commandments and His judgments, and Solomon, in the sight of the assembly of Israel and in the hearing of God, was to carefully seek out all the commandments of the LORD, that he might possess the good land (of Israel) and leave it as an inheritance for his children after him, forever (1 Chronicles 28:6-8). David, knowing this, instructed his son to “know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.”  (1 Chronicles 28:9)

    After David’s death, the LORD appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

    Here is Solomon’s response:

“Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:7-9 NKJV)

    The next verse (v10) says: “The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.”

    Because Solomon, in sincere humility, asked for wisdom, the LORD blessed him with a wise and understanding heart, as well as riches and wealth and honour, “such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.” (1 Kings 3:12, 2 Chronicles 1:11-12)

    Consider this description of God’s blessing to Solomon:

"And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon." (1 Kings 4:29:34 NKJV)

    A few chapters later, in the book of I Kings, Solomon has built the temple and dedicated it to the LORD. God appears to Solomon again and restates His promise to establish the throne of Solomon’s kingdom forever IF he walks before God as his father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, to do according to all that God has commanded, and if he keeps His statutes and His judgments. BUT if Solomon or his sons at all turn from following God, and do not keep His commandments and statutes which He has set before them, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then He will cut off Israel from the land, and the temple will be cast out of His sight; Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples…because they forsook the LORD their God…and have embraced other gods and worshiped them and served them (1 Kings 9:4-7, 9).

    During his reign, Solomon had such increase of wealth that silver was counted as nothing in his days; it was as common in Jerusalem as stones (1 Kings 10:21, 27). One would think that with all his wisdom, all his wealth, all his power and influence – “…all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart” (1 Kings 10:24) – that Solomon would be a leader in every room, that people would seek to align with him and his beliefs, but sadly, Solomon allowed himself to be influenced and allowed his heart to be turned.

    Solomon married many foreign women – something the LORD had told the Israelites not to do because “surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods” (1 Kings 11:2) – Solomon clung to these women in love, and when he was old “his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.” (1 Kings 11:4). He went so far as to follow after these foreign gods and to build places of worship for them – he did this for all his foreign wives – can you imagine what Jerusalem must have looked like with all those pagan structures built by the king?

    Solomon, a man who had been visited by the LORD twice, a king who, in all his wisdom, concluded that man’s whole purpose and endeavour in life is to “Fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14), took wives from nations he was not to intermarry with, and followed them to do evil in the sight of the LORD (1 Kings 11:6).

What can we learn from Solomon?

    Ask God for wisdom. It pleased the LORD then, and it pleases Him now. If any of you lacks wisdom, ask of God and He will give it liberally, and He won’t reprimand you for asking for it or for needing it (James 1:5). If we, like Solomon, want to discern both good and evil, we must do what God commands (Hebrews 5:14). Don’t glory in your education and/or life experience and think yourself wise, seek after the wisdom that is from above (James 3:13-18).

    Use your blessings for good.  If God has blessed you with something – whether small or great – use it to His glory (Colossians 3:17, 23, Romans 12:6-8, Galatians 6:1). Don’t let your pursuit to use your talent(s) lead you away from Him; be humble, be content, give God the glory, and serve Him faithfully with sincere love and thanksgiving (Jeremiah 9:23-24, 1 Timothy 4:12-16, Titus 2:3-5).

    Choose your friends and/or your spouse wisely. Solomon wrote, “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26, also consider 2 Corinthians 6:14). We can either influence or be influenced; if we do not anchor ourselves in God and His way, we can easily be led astray by friends/family who do not respect Him (think on 1 Peter 4:1-4, Ephesians 4:17-24, Romans 12:9). A wife can be a good influence on a husband who does not believe, by submitting first to God, then to her husband; when the husband observes his wife’s chaste conduct accompanied by fear, he may be won over to faith and service to God (1 Peter 3:1-2).

    Be faithful until death. Solomon made choices that pleased God when he was young, but when he was old he allowed worldly influence to turn him away from the LORD.  God wants us to count the cost – understand that it is a lifetime commitment we make to Him (Luke 14:25-33). He wants us to deny self, take up our cross – knowing we are not returning to our old life again – and follow Him, each and every day of our life (Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:23). Read and consider Revelation 2:10, Psalm 71:17-18; 92:12-15, Proverbs 16:31, Hebrews 10:34-39.

    God is the only way. It was God who gave Solomon the wherewithal to array himself in fine clothing, but God made the short-lived lilies of the field even more beautiful than that king’s apparel (Matthew 6:29). And even though we can be wowed that the Queen of Sheba traveled great distances to hear the wisdom of Solomon, a greater than Solomon is here – Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:42). Don’t be awed by fashion, appearance, wealth, or worldly wisdom, be awed by God and His magnificent power and glory, and His great love that gave us “a greater than Solomon” and who clothes us better than the flowers. When we are given gifts, do not forget the Giver of “every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17); it is God who gives us life, breath, and all things (Acts 17:25), it is God who gives us ability to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18); only in Him and His Son can we find all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2-3), and it is only through His Son that we can be given the greatest gifts: forgiveness (Acts 2:38; 10:43, Colossians 1:13-14, 1 John 1:9) and eternal life (John 3:16-18, Romans 6:23, 1 John 5:11).

    Solomon had asked for an ability to discern between good and evil when he was young and it pleased God, but he disregarded it when he was old, and worldly influence turned his heart from God. He stopped heeding God and even his own wise advice – let’s not make the same mistake. Fear God and keep His commandments, all the days of our lives.

You can do it! So can I!!    

  

People in the Bible Who Pleased God – David

“And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”” (1 Samuel 13:13-14 NKJV)

    When the LORD told Samuel that He had removed Saul as king, Samuel was sent to Jesse the Bethlehemite because God had chosen a king from among his sons. It was during this visit that we hear: “…the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” The first seven sons of Jesse pass in front of Samuel but the LORD did not choose any of them, then David, the youngest son (about 15 years old), was called in from the fields where he was keeping the sheep, and when he stood in front of Samuel the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for he is the one!” (1 Samuel 16:1-13). 

    Although Samuel anointed David as king, David’s path to the throne was not an easy one. Over the next 15 years of his life, David served Saul (as a musician and armour bearer, 1 Samuel 16:17-23) and then had to flee from Saul because Saul was jealous of the LORD’s blessing on David. When David did finally sit on a throne it was as king over Judah only; it would another 7 ½ years before he was king over all Israel.

“And when He had removed [Saul], He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, “I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.”” (Acts 13:22 NKJV) 

    David is mentioned as “David the man of God” twice by Nehemiah (12:24, 36), and God refers to him as “David My servant” or “My servant David” nine times (Psalm 89:20; 144:10, Isaiah 37:35, Jeremiah 33:21, 22, 26, Ezekiel 34:23, 24; 37:24, 25). David became a high water mark for all future kings (1 Kings 9:4, 15:5, 3:14); he truly was a man devoted to serving the LORD.

    Yes, David made mistakes; he sinned, but it was what he did upon realizing his sin that made a huge difference. Let’s consider two occasions when David sinned: laying with Bathsheba (and having her husband, Uriah, killed, 2 Samuel 11), and when he called for a census of the people near the end of his forty year reign (2 Samuel 24:1-25, 1 Chronicles 21:1-30).  

    After David’s increasingly terrible attempts to cover up the fact that he had been with Bathsheba, he made her his wife, she bore him a son, and “the thing that David had done displeased the LORD” (2 Samuel 11:27).  The prophet Nathan was sent to David, to tell him of his sin (2 Samuel 12:1-15) – this is the important part – as soon as David realized he had sinned against the LORD, he ran to God and pleaded to not be cast from His presence, but to have his transgressions blotted out and to be thoroughly washed from his iniquity. He acknowledged his transgression and sin, confessed that he had sinned against God, and he threw himself on the mercy of God with a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:1-19).  David needed God as dearly as he needed water to drink (Psalm 63:1-5); he could not bear to be without God’s help and sustenance, he immediately did what was necessary to seek God’s mercy.

    Near the end of his days, “Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel” (1 Chronicles 21:1), so David commanded Joab to count the people – this command was abominable to Joab, but he did a count of all the people, except the tribes of Levi and Benjamin (1 Chronicles 21:3-6). Taking this census displeased the LORD so He struck Israel (1 Chronicles 21:7), and David’s heart condemned him. He ran to the LORD and again threw himself on the LORD’s mercies, confessed that he had done very foolishly, and pleaded that his iniquity would be taken away (2 Samuel 24:10). The LORD sent word through Gad, giving David three options for punishment (because there were still consequences for sinning): Seven years of famine, three months of fleeing from enemies, or three days plague in your land.  David determined that he would rather fall into the hands of the LORD than the hands of man, because the LORD’s mercies are great (2 Samuel 24:14). So God sent a plague on the people, but when the angel reached Jerusalem God staid its hand, and David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces and David begged the LORD that only he and his family be plagued because it was he who had sinned and done evil (1 Chronicles 21:16-17); he then built an altar to the LORD*, offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and the LORD responded with fire from heaven on the altar and commanded the angel to sheath its weapon (1 Chronicles 21:26-27). 

*It was at this very location that Solomon would build the temple (2 Samuel 24:18-25, 2 Chronicles 3:1)    

Study note: Moses took a census of the people after the Israelites left Egypt and again when the next generation were about to enter the land of Canaan – the difference then was that God commanded him to do so. Moses’ censuses were to determine the number of men who were 20 and above; men who could fight. When David took a census, without being asked to, it may have been a momentary point of pride to glory in the extent of his military power – David needed to keep his trust in God and His power, not the supposed power found in the quantity of people; he needed to glory in God who had amassed them by His providence and provision.   

    David, no matter his trouble or triumph, ran to God. David praised Him when a victim and when a victor; he pleaded for His help and trusted in His power and might. David sinned, but because he appreciated his relationship with the LORD so keenly, he was quick to feel true remorse upon realizing his sin; he ran to God, confessed his sin, and pleaded with Him that he might be washed from his iniquity so that he could commune with the LORD as before.

What can we learn from David?

    We can wait patiently for God’s promises. David waited 22 ½ years for the fulfillment of his promised position, during that time “David strengthened himself in the LORD his God” and made inquiries of the LORD to know what he should do when troubles came (1 Samuel 30:6-8). Read and consider Numbers 23:19, Psalm 27:14, Psalm 62, Hebrews 11:6, and 2 Corinthians 1:20-22.

    We can do God’s will. David was a man after God’s own heart because he would do God’s will. When we are willing to hear what God says and do it, He will be pleased. Read and think on Ephesians 5:17, John 15:14, and James 1:21-27.

    We can trust in God above anything else. God gives to all life, breath, and all things (Acts 17:25, Job 12:10). When we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, God will make sure we have what we need (food, drink, clothing, Matthew 6:25-34, 2 Corinthians 9:8). It is God who gives us power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Read and think on Psalm 118:8-9; 146:1-10, and Jeremiah 9:23-24.  

    We can proclaim God’s praises and declare His greatness. David wrote many psalms of praise, and when we read them we can learn how to speak beautiful words to God and about God; these psalms express joy and complete contentment in the LORD, and they help us appreciate the benefits of living under God’s merciful care. Take time to read a few of the psalms written by David this week: 32, 34, 65, and 66 for starters.

    We can run to God in repentance and confess our sins to Him. We all have sinned. As we practice righteousness we can still stumble and sin, but what we do when we realize our sin is important. We are not to continue in sin (Romans 6:1-2), we are not to seek to justify ourselves in our sin (Proverbs 21:2, Luke 16:15), and we should not think that God doesn’t know or care about our sin (Psalm 10:11, 94:4-7, 139:1-4). Appreciate the blessings found in being a child of God so keenly that you are quick to feel remorse and seek His forgiveness when you sin. Read and consider Psalm 38, Proverbs 28:13, Acts 8:14-24, Hebrews 4:13, and 1 John 1:9.

    Are you ready to be a woman after God’s own heart? To do His will while you patiently wait for His promises? To trust Him so much that you proclaim His praises daily? Are you ready to trust Him with all your cares, running to Him in good times and in bad? To love Him so dearly that you cannot bear to be away from, or outside of, His loving care?

You can do it! So can I!!

People in the Bible Who Pleased God – Moses

    Many know Moses as the Hebrew baby hidden in the bulrushes in Egypt, or as the man who led the Israelites out of Egypt bondage and gave them the Ten Commandments, but there is so much more that we can learn from Moses.

Here are three things that made Moses unique:

Moses was very humble

“(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the face of the earth.)” (Numbers 12:3 NKJV)

    When he was 40 years old, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather “to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:24-25), and when he approached the burning bush that same year, and heard the voice of the Lord, “he trembled and dared not look” (Acts 7:30-33). When he heard that the LORD wanted to send him to deliver the Israelites, Moses replied, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” but God assured him, through words and signs (Exodus 3-4), that He would be with him through it all.

    Humility is not weakness, it is recognizing a complete dependence on God, and Moses, acknowledging his own weaknesses, asked God to help him, to go with him, so he could do the things God had given him to do. Take time to read and consider Exodus 33:12-17.    

    In the last 40 years of his life, his older siblings, Miriam and Aaron, rose up in criticism against Moses, but he left it to the LORD, just as Jesus did (1 Peter 2:23) to rebuke them. When punishment was delivered, Aaron immediately humbled himself before Moses and asked that the punishment on Miriam be lifted, and Moses pleaded with the LORD to heal Miriam from the leprosy she was struck with after her dissension. Read and think on Numbers 16, when Korah, Dathan, and Abiram gathered men together in rebellion against Moses (verse 3). Note Moses’ initial response in Numbers 16:4 and his further responses in verses 41-42 and 46-48.

    Moses remained a humble servant to his death at age 120 years old (Deuteronomy 34:7).

Moses was faithful as a servant

    In his humility Moses felt unqualified, but asking for God’s help, he went and he did what was asked of him.

    Moses, though a stranger to them, stood before the immense and mighty people of Israel, and he prepared them for departure from their bondage by declaring God’s instructions to them. He stood repeatedly before their oppressor, the Pharaoh of Egypt, informing him of God’s power and might. He led the children of Israel out of Egypt and into the wilderness toward the promised land. All of this he felt unqualified to do, yet he did it, seeking God’s help all the while.

    He is remembered as the “servant of the LORD” (by King Joash, 2 Chronicles 24:6), and the Hebrew writer says that “Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant” (Hebrews 3:2, 5). Later in the book of Hebrews, in the chapter highlighting the faithful, six verses outline what Moses did by faith (Hebrews 11:24-29).    

The LORD spoke to Moses face to face

    While rebuking Miriam and Aaron in Numbers 12:6-8, the LORD makes clear the unique form of communication He used with Moses:

“Here now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I , the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. I speak to him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; and he sees the form of the LORD. Whey then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?” (NKJV)

    And after Moses’ death it is stated:

“…But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, in all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all the land, and by all the mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.” (Deuteronomy 34:10-12 NKJV).

    The LORD spoke to Moses as a man speaks to a friend (Exodus 33:11), not in dreams or visions, but in clear, understandable words; words that would guide not only Moses, but God’s chosen people, in obedience and to find grace in the eyes of God.

What can we learn from Moses?

    Like Moses, we can humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord (James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:5-7). Humility is needed to truly submit to His will (“willing to yield” James 3:13-17), to humbly trust that His commands and instruction are for our good always (Deuteronomy 6:24-25), and to do what He has given us to do.

    God has given us a purpose to fulfil: to seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:26-27), to do good works (Ephesians 2:10), and to proclaim His praises (1 Peter 2:9). Throughout the New Testament, we find many commands and instructions that help us fulfill our purpose, but sometimes we may feel unsure about our ability to do what God has asked. If so, we need to read the Bible to reassure ourselves of God’s promises and His power; to fortify our trust that He will be with us every step of the way! Remember that it is only by His power, might, and wisdom that we can stand up against the wiles of the devil and overcome evil with good (Ephesians 6:10-18, Romans 12:1-21).

    Like Moses, we can be faithful as a servant. Be willing to serve God faithfully for life (Revelation 2:10, Matthew 24:13), not only when it’s convenient, not only when we need something from Him, but always – serve Him faithfully on your good days and on your bad days; when it’s hard and when it’s easy, when He asks much of you and when He asks little. Be willing to trust in His ability, take a deep breath, and step out in faith to obey what He commands!

    Like Moses, we can talk to God always. Tell Him your fears, acknowledge your weaknesses (Philippians 4:6), go boldly to His throne of grace in time of need (Hebrews 4:16); ask Him for wisdom (James 1:5) and strength (Ephesians 3:14-21, 1 Peter 5:8-11). Never give up on prayer – it’s your line of communication with our Creator! – pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). Talk to God, plead with Him (Luke 18:1-8), make your requests known, and then get up, trusting Him with all your cares (1 Peter 5:6-7), and do what He has commanded you to do.

Are you ready?

You can do it! So can I!! 

People in the Bible Who Pleased God - Abraham

    Abraham is a familiar person to many Bible students. Known for believing in the LORD, hearing His instruction, and doing what was asked of him, Abraham (originally called Abram), was called “the friend of God” (James 2:23).

    By faith 75 year old Abram (with his wife, Sarai, and nephew, Lot), obeyed God’s command to leave what was familiar (Ur of the Chaldeans - northern Iraq, and Haran – southeastern Turkey) and go to a land God would show him; Abram didn’t know where this journey would take him, yet he obeyed. When he reached Shechem – halfway between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, a central point in the land of Canaan – God told Abram that this land would be given to him and his descendants, even though Abram did not yet have a child.

    By faith Abram believed that God would give him descendants, even though he didn’t know how or when. He was 86 years old when Ishmael was born to him (by Sarai’s maid, Hagar, Genesis 16:16), but it wasn’t until Abram was 99 years old that God appeared to him again and told him that a child would be born to him by his wife, Sarai (Genesis 17:1, 15-19).       

    It was at this time that God changed Abram’s name to Abraham – from a name that meant ‘exalted father’ to one that meant ‘father of a multitude’ – God, in giving Abram this new name, was confirming His covenant to him – making it known to all who knew Abram that God is faithful and His promises are true.

    Abraham’s complete faith in God was confirmed when he showed himself ready to follow through with God’s command to sacrifice his promised son, Isaac. Abraham wholly trusted that God was able to raise Isaac up from the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19) so reached out his hand and took hold of the knife, but the Angel of the LORD called to him and told him not to lay a hand on Isaac, and Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket, so Abraham sacrificed the ram on the prepared altar and called the place “The-LORD-Will-Provide” (Genesis 22).

    Now, yes, one may argue that nowhere in the Bible does it say that Abram/Abraham pleased God, and that is our series of study, but I am confident we can take that as a given when “he was called the friend of God” (James 2:23), when King Jehoshaphat mentioned him as “Abraham Your friend forever” (while petitioning the LORD for help in 2 Chronicles 20:7), and when the LORD Himself referred to him as “Abraham My friend” in Isaiah 41:8.

“But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” (Isaiah 41:8-10 NKJV)

What can we learn from Abraham?

    Abraham feared the LORD. He believed Him, trusted Him, and obeyed Him. He lived as a sojourner in tents and God made him a father of nations (“as many as the stars in the sky in multitude – innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore”). Abraham “waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” and he died in faith, assured of God’s promises; embracing them, and because of this God was not ashamed to be called his God (Hebrews 11:8-16).

    We, too, can fear God, believe His word, trust His instruction, and obey Him. In that obedience and faith we, too, will be required to leave behind what is familiar (our old lives of sin, Romans 6:1-6, Ephesians 4:17-24) and follow God (Matthew 16:24).

    It is at this juncture (baptism for the remission of sins) that God gives us a new name: Christian. It means that we are ‘in Christ’ (joint heirs with Christ, and children of God), and this name (in its truest use) confirms His covenant with us (Mark 16:16, 1 John 3:1-3). In wearing this new name and obeying His commands, we make known His wisdom to those around us by doing the good He gives us to do (Ephesians 2:10) and grow to be the people He desires us to be (ex: James 1:15-16, Hebrews 5:14) – we proclaim His praises and prove that His promises are real (1 Peter 2:9, Romans 12:1-2)!   

    As Christians, we too, are sojourners, living in tents (2 Corinthians 4:16-5:7), and looking forward to the city with foundations, whose builder and maker is God (John 14:1-6).

    When we have wholly trust and faithfully obey God, no matter the sacrifice; when we patiently hope for the things we cannot yet see, we can please God – are you ready?

You can do it! So can I!! 

    

People in the Bible Who Pleased God: Noah

    Noah lived amongst a generation in which “the wickedness of man was great,” and “every intent of the thoughts of [man’s] heart was only evil continually.” The earth was “filled with violence” and “was corrupt before God… for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Genesis 6:5-8, 11-12).

    Why?

    Noah was a just man, perfect* in his generations. Noah walked with God (Genesis 6:9). Because of this, he was divinely warned of the impending flood, he was given precise instruction, and Noah, in receiving these, moved with godly fear and prepared an ark for the saving of his household (Hebrews 11:7).

* perfect, from the Hebrew word tamim (Strong’s Hebrew #8549), meaning innocent, blameless, having integrity, of God’s way

    In building the ark just as the LORD had instructed, and allowing himself (and his household) to be closed up into it, Noah showed the world the difference between following God and following self; he showed where the two paths lead, and in doing so, he condemned* the world and became an heir of righteousness.   

*condemned, from the Greek word katakrino (Strong’s Greek #2632), which means by one’s good example they render another’s wickedness more evident and censurable. See Matthew 12:41 and Luke 11:31. Consider also Ephesians 5:8-14. The unfruitful works of darkness are not exposed by our words (“it is shameful even to talk of those things”) but by our walking in the light – doing what is right in God’s sight – the difference will be obvious; showing all who observe us that there is another – a better – way.

    Because he trusted and obeyed God, Noah reaped the benefits of being righteous: he and all his household were saved. After the flood, God blessed Noah (and his sons) and made a covenant with him – an everlasting covenant – with a sign that we can still see today: the rainbow (Genesis 9:1-17), and later in scripture, Noah was noted for his righteousness: by the LORD in Ezekiel 14:14, 20, and in 2 Peter 2:5, Peter describes him as “a preacher of righteousness.”    

    What can we learn from Noah’s life?

    Like Noah, we live in a world that has its heart set on evil continually, and, we too, we have been divinely warned (through God’s word, the Bible). Like him, we need to move with godly fear and prepare “an ark” for the saving of our household. We need to protect our household and give them a future by showing them how to obey God’s commands and instructions with sincere love and respect for God.

    Like Noah, our ark (aka our commitment to righteousness through faith) is built by following God’s precise instruction – instruction found only in His word. Our ark is built in trust and obedience, and it will…

…show our household that God’s word is worthy of both our time and our attention. In living right before God, we will prove that His will is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).

…allow us to be an example to believers (1 Timothy 4:12-16), and those in the world who see our good works, who may come to glorify God (1 Peter 2:11-12).

…protect us and buoy us in storms (1 Peter 2:18-25, James 1:2-4, Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:9-21).

…give us a future (Hebrews 10:32-39, Matthew 7:13-14, Mark 13:13)   

“We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:8-20 NKJV)

    Noah pleased God and found grace in His eyes because he trusted Him and obeyed His commands even when the world around him refused. He taught his sons, while he built the ark and when they boarded the ark, that God’s way can and should be trusted, and that it is the only way to salvation.

    Let’s determine to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) so that we learn to do what is right, and so we can give our household a future by showing them how to practice righteousness and shine as lights in a wicked world (Philippians 2:14-16).

You can do it! So can I!!

   

New Study: Men and Women in the Bible Who Pleased God

    As with familiar verses, Bible students can have a tendency to skim over the mentions/stories of familiar people in the Bible simply because they 'already know them.' Well, I’m at the stage in my studies, where I’m rereading passages and revisiting people who have long been familiar to me, yet I have found that when I take the time to dig into their text and context, I continue to discover more reasons to value the importance of their mention and I continue to find new determination and encouragement in my walk. I would like to encourage you to also discover their value, so I’m beginning this new study of familiar persons in the Bible; specifically persons of whom it is said: they pleased God.

    What does it take to please God? Some think it an impossible task, so they don’t even begin to seek an answer to that question. Is it impossible? Without faith, yes (Hebrews 11:6). But with faith, one can be pleasing to God! Faith starts us on a journey with God, obedience keeps us to the path we walk with Him, and gratitude keeps our grasp firmly on Him!

    Let’s begin our study with the first man of whom it was said, he pleased God: ENOCH

    Genesis 4:26 mentions that after Adam’s grandson was born (Seth’s son, Enosh) that “men began to call on the name of the LORD”, meaning they began to seek Him, turn to Him for guidance, and faithfully follow His instruction; Enoch was four generations (or 387 years) later.

    Now, Enoch is best known for his death – or the lack thereof (we’ll get to that in a moment) – but I would like us to dig into what Enoch did during his lifetime, because it is worthy of our attention.

    Enoch was sixty-five years old when he had his first son, Methuselah (Genesis 5:21), and after his birth, Enoch walked with God three hundred years and had more sons and daughters (Genesis 5:22). During those three hundred years, Enoch prophesied about Jesus and the coming judgment. Think about that for a moment. Roughly 4700 years before Jesus was born, Enoch prophesied of Jesus’ return and His judgment on ungodly men who departed from God and denied His instructions.

“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” (Jude 14-15 NKJV)    

Side study: Take time this week to read the whole epistle of Jude – because the times in which Enoch prophesied (consider Genesis 6:5) were not much different from the time in which Jude wrote, nor were they any different from the times we live in now.

    Enoch continued to walk with God, living to see the first 48 years of his grandson's life, then 634 years before the flood, because of his faith – because he pleased God - Enoch was taken by God and did not see death.

“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5 NKJV).

What can we learn from Enoch’s life?

    In a time when few called on the LORD, Enoch walked with Him. After having his first child, Enoch turned to God, believed in Him, diligently sought Him, and warned others that their ungodly words and ways would have real consequences – in doing this, he pleased God.

    If we have been blessed with children (or have any people to whom we can be an example), let’s do our utmost to seek God, turn to His Word for guidance (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Timothy 4:12-16), pray to Him for wisdom (James 1:5) and obey His instruction (James 1:21-27) so that we can guide our children (through example and word) in what is good and right.

    Let us determine to faithfully walk with God each and every day of our life, and learn from Him so that we can lovingly warn those around us (Ephesians 5:8-17, also consider Hebrews 3:12-14). Let’s look for opportunities to teach others so that they, too, can believe that God is, and that He is both a rewarder (to those who diligently seek Him, Hebrews 11:6) and a judge (to those who continue in ungodliness, consider Titus 2:11-15).

    If we do these things, we, too, can have this testimony, that we pleased God.

You can do it! So can I!!

If It Is “No Longer I Who Live” Why Am I Seeking Glory from Man for What I Do?

    As we bring this 8-week study to a close, I would like you to consider the counteractivity of proclaiming “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20) while elbowing your way to the forefront, effectively pushing Christ out of the way, to receive the glory and accolades for what you have done with the blessings from the Lord.

    We have come to understand that the life of a Christian is one of sacrifice. We sacrifice our old ways (sinful habits, Romans 6:1-14, Ephesians 4:17-24, Psalm 1:1-3), and as we follow Jesus’ example and walk in His steps (1 Peter 2:21, 1 John 2:16), we make the necessary changes and sacrifices to come into line with God’s Word; we become “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1-2). Jesus said that to follow Him we must first “deny self” (learn selflessness, no longer focused on earthly things, Colossians 3:1-17), then we “take up [our] cross” (never to return to our former life), and follow Him (Matthew 16:24-26).

    When we seek after glory and praise from man for validation we miss out. We miss out on the quiet, calm assurance of knowing that God is pleased with our efforts; pleased with how we have used the things He has blessed us with. We miss out on the increase of strength and motivation that comes from God as we labour in doing good to all (2 Corinthians 9:8, Galatians 6:9-10), and we miss out on the development of the confidence-building trust in His promises (Hebrews 11:6).

    When we truly let Christ live in us, we will humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, just as Jesus did (Philippians 2:5-8), wholly trusting that He will exalt us in due time (1 Peter 5:5-6).

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God…. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8:13-14, 16-17 NKJV)

    If you wear the name of Christ and truly let Him live in you, sacrifice your desire for man’s temporary praise and momentary applause. Seek after God’s praise, desire His true and lasting exaltation. Give Him the glory for your life, your abilities, and your blessings (both physical and spiritual). Use all that He has granted you to be a benefit to others and direct all the glory to Him for His generous goodness toward all mankind (Matthew 5:16, Psalm 16:2). Live your life to His standard, not mans. The hope of receiving praise from God – “well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21) – is worth every effort and every sacrifice!

You can do it! So can I!! 

Pleasing God or Man?

    In our study about learning to love praise from God more than from man, we have come to realize that desiring praise and accolades from man to validate our efforts (good works, teaching, etc.) soon turns us into a puppet controlled by their whims and fancies: What they want to hear we speak, what they don’t want to hear we avoid. The Truth is exchanged for a lie – one that changes to suit the current situation – so that no one is offended or feels “judged.”

Note: Man’s opinions (aka notions and whims) can and will fluctuate. You can please someone one day and find that very same thing does not please them another day – seeking everyone’s approval is a downward spiral, a slippery slope that takes you far from the proper path. God’s expectation (made known through His word, His commands and instructions) is constant; we can know what will please Him and it will not change.

    Do you ever find yourself avoiding bringing God into the conversation with for example, your unbelieving husband, your wayward children/grandchildren, or maybe it’s your neighbours, coworkers, friends, or other relatives, for fear that they may turn on you? You see an opportunity and you want to advise them in God’s way but to avoid a scene you don’t speak out? I’ve been there, too. Generally, we don’t like making people feel uncomfortable and we don’t like when people don’t like us or like being around us, so we avoid ‘touchy’ subjects. It is a fear that in reality causes us to be self-serving, so that we don’t feel uncomfortable or unwanted in these situations.

“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10 NKJV)

    When we are truly living as a bondservant of Christ – a servant who chooses to stay and serve (Deuteronomy 15:12-17) – we will live and breathe the Truth, desiring daily to increase our knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual understanding; through reading, study, and application. We will find that when we don’t share it, it will burn inside of us (consider prophet, Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 20:7-11 ), so we will pray for opportunities and for purity of heart so that when we do speak it will be with tenderness and care (Colossians 4:5-6, Ephesians 5:15-17), and when we share God’s word we will do so with the courage and strength He provides (Ephesians 3:15-16, 6:10, 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, considering also John 15:18-20). We will promote Him to the world through our words and deeds so that they, too, may come to the Light and gain hope beyond this life. We will learn to love the souls in the world because God loves them and desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4); He is longsuffering - with them and with us – that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

When we serve God, we seek to persuade men of His way.

When we serve ourselves, we seek to persuade God of our way.

    God will bless you for taking a stand for Him, for declaring His greatness, for giving Him the credit for your life and hope! Seek His blessing and give others the opportunity to gain lasting peace, don’t be content with the self-serving, temporary ‘comfort’ of unspoken words that bring only a false sense of peace.

    Are you confident in God’s way? Have you tried it His way and proven that His will is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2)? Do you wholly believe that God’s way – as found in the Bible - is the best way and the only way that leads home to Him? Don’t let the fear of upsetting people prevent you from giving loving advice from His word. Please don’t let possible embarrassment stop you from inviting someone to church services.

You can do it! So can I!!   

Are We Seeking Our Glory or God's Glory: Reconciling Matthew 5:14-16 and 6:1-4

    How do you “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16) and yet “take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them” (Matthew 6:1)? I was asked this question by an older woman, a long-time Christian, and I think that the query is a good fit with this study, so let’s dig in for the answer.

    Both of these commands were given by Jesus, they were both part of the lesson He taught His disciples on the mountainside (Matthew 5:1). We know Jesus speaks the words of the Father (John 12:49) and with God there is no contradiction nor error (Psalm 12:6, 19:7-11; 119:140, 160). So what is the answer? 

    I believe that it comes down to our heart’s motivation – are we serving God or are we serving ourselves?

    God called us (by the gospel, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14) out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). We walk in the light of the Lord as “children of light,” finding out what is acceptable to the Lord (Ephesians 5:8-14). We find out what is acceptable to God as we learn His will and way (reading and study) and “by reason of use” (application, being a hearer AND a doer, James 1:21-25) our senses are trained to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:12-14). Jesus tells us that we do not light a lamp and then cover it with a box; we light a lamp so “that those who come in may see the light” (Luke 11:33-36). We do not hide it away in selfishness or shame (Galatians 2:20); we let it benefit others who need it (consider John 3:19-21) – we are lights along the narrow path that leads to our heavenly home – we do good to promote God and His way to the world lost in darkness.

    When we shine in God’s marvelous light, avoiding evil and doing what is good and right on a daily basis, inevitably our light will be seen by others. Now we may or may not ever know of the positive impact of our good works, meaning we may not be approached by others who say, “I saw that,” “That was a good thing you did,” or ”I thank God for you” because we simply see opportunities to help and we do them. We are not respecters of persons or places (whether stranger, friend, or enemy, Matthew 5:43-48, 25:34-46), we do good for God’s sake, knowing the blessings He has granted us are above and beyond anything we could ever hope for, knowing that He has blessed us with the resources to give cheerfully of ourselves and/or our means (2 Corinthians 9:7-11), and that all that He gives is in such abundance that we cannot help but share it (consider 2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Our good works are a love letter of gratitude to God for all that He has blessed us with; it speaks volumes of our trust in His promised provision, and proves to both our own selves and others that His will and way is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2)!

    It is when we make good works or ‘charitable deeds’ about us, promoting ourselves to the world – “Look at me! I’m doing a good work!” “This will look great on my resume!” “You’re taking a photo for the paper? Oh, yes, let me get in the front row. Oh, and my name? Yes, it’s C, A, T…..” That is where the problem lies. Pomp, ceremony, spotlights. The need to be seen so that others look at us with awe, and maybe even reverence, for our ‘Christian-ness.’

    Do you serve God or yourself?

    Jesus says to do your good works “in secret” (Matthew 6:3-4), with a sincere wish that God will receive the glory for the good you are able to do. Quietly do good to show appreciation and thanksgiving for God’s benefits (Psalm 68:19). And if you do receive praise from someone who happened to see your good deeds, give God the glory; tell them that it is because of His blessings that you were able to help, because of His instruction your eyes were open to the need.    

You can do it! So can I!!

Seeking One’s Own Glory is Not Glory

“It is not good to eat much honey; so to seek one’s own glory is not glory.” (Proverbs 25:27 NKJV)

    My Mom had a saying – I can still hear her voice as I think about it – “Too much of anything is not good for you.” The writer of Proverbs likens the overeating of honey to desiring glory and praise for yourself, both lead to ill effects.

    When your heart desires glory from men, your motivation depends on them and the possibility of receiving their praise becomes your incentive. Your esteem rises with every compliment and falls with every criticism, you overwork and tweak your words and actions in hopes of gaining more praise; and it soon becomes an addiction of sorts. You need your fix – just a few uttered words of commendation – or you sink into a puddle of self-doubt, dejection, and perceived rejection. Eventually you need more and more in order to function. When people are not forthcoming with their praise for you, you may even begin asking for their opinions of what you’ve accomplished in hopes of eking out an accolade to make your efforts feel worthwhile.

    God wants you to understand that the glory you seek to receive from man is not glory at all – the pursuit of it is “grasping at the wind” – its effect (that nice feeling you get when hearing kind words) doesn’t last, it’s not fulfilling, it is vain, empty, and fleeting.

    Having a heart that desires to do good for God’s sake and His alone, that He may receive the glory for the blessings He bestowed, results in a very different sense of well-being. You can lay your weary head on your pillow at night with a clear conscience – “We have done what was our duty to do” (Luke 17:10) – knowing you did your best to be a good steward of the blessings God granted you (2 Corinthians 9:7-12, Proverbs 19:17, Hebrews 13:16), and your heart will be overflowing with praise and thanksgiving to God for your health and abilities (Colossians 3:17), and for His instruction in how to use them in His service (ex: Titus 2:3-5).

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24 NKJV)

    What God offers by way of glory is lasting. Knowing that we are giving our best efforts to accomplish what He has asked of us gives us a quiet confidence to keep going; our motivation comes from the thought of one day hearing “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25: 14-30), understanding that our time here, following God’s commands, is preparing us for worshiping Him in eternity. Gaining assurance that we are doing what is right in His sight comes from studying His word, the Bible, and our desire to be pleasing to Him will lead us to toward growth in knowledge (1 Peter 3:18) and application (James 1:21-25), and a greater desire to serve, just as Jesus humbly served (Mark 10:45).

    Don’t seek after your own glory; it comes to no good end. Instead seek for the joy-filled assurance that you are pleasing to God, look toward the eternal reward that God offers to all who faithfully serve Him and do what He has commanded!

You can do it! So can I!!