The favor of God was bestowed upon King Solomon because of his great love for the Lord and elaborate worship of Him. In this juncture of his life, he followed after God’s heart, as his father David did. Because of this, God gave him peace on every side of his kingdom. Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” 

So we may ask, ‘What pleases the Lord?’ We know that faith pleases God. Hebrews 11:6 says, “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 those who diligently seek Him.” When we trust God is in control, when we believe that blessings await us as we follow through with the instructions in His word, He is pleased. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)

It is worthy to note that the faith which God requires works by love. (Galatians 5:6) The highest form of love - agape, selfless, unconditional, God’s love. We are to worship Him above all else, then love our neighbors as ourselves, forgive at every opportunity, be long-suffering and kind, bless, not curse our enemies. The Apostle Paul, understanding the importance of God’s love, prayed in this manner for the church in Philippi, “… that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11)

These are words of wisdom for us today. If we are to please God, may we accept the challenge to love one another as Christ loved us. To experience God’s love for us personally, then give it away to others. Our faith will be plentiful and the favor of God, like precious oil upon the head, running down the beard of Aaron, the blessing of unity and the presence of the Lord will be upon us all, upon our families, our home and our church.

Querido Padre Celestial,

Your words and Your ways are so clear in Scripture. Thank You that I have Your Word and Your ways and Your Son revealed to me so clearly. Increase my faith so that I may be more pleasing to You. Help me to be faithful in reading and hearing Your Word, since faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. I confess I often neglect reading and hearing Your Word, and then I wonder why my faith is shrinking. Remind me! By Your Holy Spirit, remind me! By the music on the radio, remind me! By my friends and family remind me! In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

 

In his message on Sunday, Pastor Franklin admonished us to thank God for every blessing, but not to trade our peace. Similarly, 1 Timothy 1:19 encourages us to hold on to faith and a good conscience. Then we can have peace in any circumstance, the kind that only comes from Jesus (John 14:27).