As I go through this let me point out three Biblical Characters whom God liked very much;what special qualities they had or what made their lives a sweet smelling offering in the sight of God.
1. JOB :
He was the richest person in the Eastern part of the world. God gave him seven sons and three daughters. But suddenly destruction came through his window. Not an ordinary destruction ! Something that can drive a man insane !! He lost all his wealth - three daughters and seven sons. All in a single day!! Imagine the horror that would have befallen his future. It didn't stop with it. He caught terrible skin diseases and developed leprosy.
In this utterly chaotic situation, JOB said something that's pleasing and beyond our imagination.
Job 1:21
21 And he said: “ Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Can anyone say like this after losing all our wealth, heirs -- standing in the streets , scratching our skin rotten with disease. What a tremendous FAITH does this chap had on God? This made him pleasing and wonderful in the sight of the Lord!! He restored everything doubly to him and we can read in the closing chapters.
2. DAVID :
David was the eighth son to his father. He did not have intelligence like the rest of his brothers and so was made a shepherd to tend the flock. But his Heavenly Father had totally different plans for him. God sent Samuel(Prophet) to Jesse to select the next King of Israel. Jesse was none other than the father of David. What made him so special ? See for yourself
Psalm 103:1-5
A Psalm of David.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
It is this praise in his mouth that made him righteous in the eyes of the Lord.
3. PETER :
Peter was one of the twelve apostles of Christ Jesus.
Luke 5:1-11
1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
Did you get the key? What made Peter so liked and a great Apostle ? It was his obedience to the word of God . That is the key behind everything.
The more we obey God's commandment and follow his ways. The more will he bless us. As long as we are in his course, there is no trouble. But when we derail from the wonderful path he has laid out for us, he will definitely chastise us until we fall back on place(Just like a father does).
Amen.
