Topic: Intentionally Pleasing the Lord
Bible Reading: Proverbs 16-18; 1 Corinthians 2.
Memory Verse: “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7 (KJV)
Jacob took the blessing of his brother, Esau and he threatened to kill him and so several years later when Jacob was returning with his family and was to meet his brother, Esau, he was afraid and distressed. More so when he learnt Esau was coming to him with four hundred men! (Genesis 32:6-7 KJV). However he called on the Lord and God blessed him and even changed his name from Jacob to Israel! (Genesis 32:28-29). This shows that God was pleased with him and thus when he finally met his brother, the word of God says in Genesis 33:4 (KJV), “And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.”
So God made his enemy to be at peace with him in accordance with His word in Proverbs 16:7 (KJV), “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
But we know that Jacob deceived his father, Isaac to get the blessing meant for Esau, but several years later, he has changed his ways and become closer to God. So if you have wronged God in the past that does not stop you from pleasing God going forward. So the question is then how do you ensure your ways please the Lord? It’s simply by your obedience to His words in the Bible. Firstly, you need to have faith in Him that He will do whatsoever He says He will do. ( Matthew 11:22-23) Then you need to study His word so that you know His dos and don’ts and finally you need to obey His words. This is the core of the matter. No matter how seemingly unreasonable His commands may be, you should be ready to obey knowing that He will make all things to work for your good.
Above all, the foundation of the Christian faith is love. You should love the Lord your God and His creation. That way you will not be willing to do anything that may grieve God. When you are ready to do this, you will yield your body, soul and spirit to the leading of the Holy Spirit who knows the mind of God and does things in line with His Will.
Any action you are about to take, you will first ask yourself if it pleases God before embarking on it. Everything about you is to honour God and so you seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness. Even people around you will know that you are a true child of God as your behaviour will show.
Prayer point: Father, please let my life please you everyday.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero