Pleasing the Lord
“When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7)
As I was reading in Precious Pearls from the Proverbs this morning, the chapter was based on the above verse. I memorized that verse a long time ago but I never thought about its meaning. Is it true that all we have to do is please the Lord and we won’t have an enemy in the world? That’s what it sounds like until you think about the verses which talk about a man’s enemies being those of his own household or what about “All that will live Godly in Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12)?
There is obviously truth to both verses. If we are serving God wholeheartedly, we will be persecuted. We’ll be accused of being legalistic or “too Heavenly minded to be any earthly good.” We may even be slandered by those who think we’re “too good to be true” and who, therefore, are determined to undermine us. However, no matter what others throw at us, if we are truly pleasing God, people will notice and they will be drawn to Him. If we can counter their attacks with kindness and love, we may win them back as opposed to driving a deeper wedge between us.
I’ve learned not to take the bad things that come as an automatic sign of God’s displeasure but I do believe that, if I’m walking in His ways and striving to please Him, nothing will be able to touch me for I will have His Spirit giving me the strength to move on to live peaceably with all men, and those who refuse to live peaceably will eventually move on. All I need to do is stay close to Christ.
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