‘But’

I never thought I’d feel sorry for God! Yet on reading this Scripture I did, and still do…

“He created us for his pleasure” (Revelation 4:11).

Just like God created humankind with knowledge to create things to give themselves pleasure such as: airplanes, swimming pools, houses, vehicles, laptops, telephones – and my favourite, the SATNAV! God created something for His pleasure – YOU and ME!

However, I often get sad thinking, ‘How can God get any pleasure at this time from what He created?’ So much sin, rebellion, lawlessness, self-gratification.‘ And so many turning their backs on Him to ‘identify’ with the world! What pleasure can He be deriving from all of this? Yes, I feel pain for God.

And when He first created mankind for His pleasure, what did He get? “The wickedness was great on the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The earth was corrupt in the sight of God and was filled with violence. All flesh had corrupted their way” (Genesis 6).

I’d never realized that the Lord could have regrets. I’d never realised that the Lord could ‘hurt’. I’d never realised the Lord had feelings. Clearly He does…

“The Lord was sorry that He made them and was grieved in His heart. (Genesis 6).

So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created for I am sorry I have made them. The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence. I am about to destroy them'” (Genesis 6).

‘BUT’ “Noah walked faithfully with God.

‘BUT’ Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6).

It’s no secret why Noah found ‘favour’ with the Lord – Noah was the ONLY one in his time remaining faithful and still walking with the Lord, refusing to ‘identify’ with the world! So the Lord did have SOMEONE giving Him pleasure.

And that little word ‘BUT’ makes me want to be a ‘BUT’ for the Lord too, like Noah was!

Do you sometimes feel lonely and the only ‘BUT’ in these same wicked days we are living in!? Noah had no one else to fellowship with either, other than God and his close family. But that was sufficient for him. And because he had no intention of ‘identifying’ with the world, Noah still got up every morning to the same mocking and reviling, from turncoats, telling him what he and his family were missing out on.

I certainly intend to stay a ‘BUT’ no matter how lonely it could get towards the Lord’s return.

How can we bring the Lord pleasure?

Just as we need God, He needs us! We are so keen to tell God how much we need Him, and I know we do. But are we fully aware how much God needs His children to bring Him some pleasure, being the reason they were created. He doesn’t require a lot. Just for us to stay faithful; just to continue walking with Him during a time when life could be so much easier not to!“For all the people walk in the name of its god. But we will walk in the name of the Lord our God” (Micah 4:5). That is what gives the Lord pleasure, and will make you a ‘favourite’ like Noah was.

If there is something clear throughout God’s word it is this: God does not like double mindedness, double standards, lukewarmness, or serving two masters! God derives pleasure from an ‘undivided’ heart.

“O Lord, remember how I have walked before Thee with an undivided heart” (2 Kings 20:3).

Definition of Undivided: Exclusive; undistracted; unswerving; will not wander or go astray.

The opposite of Undivided: Split; distracted; partial; conflicting interests; shared.

It is not all about ‘Praise’ and ‘Worship’ like many think it is and do. There are umpteen who praise and worship wonderfully in a service, then leave to ‘identify’ with the world. I’m certain God doesn’t even hear it, as it is false, hypocritical, and DISLOYAL, “to be friends with the world is hostility to God” (James 4:4).

During these end-time days we are living in, there is something very important that Noah had to do, that we must do too – if we are to remain sane! Noah had to leave all what was happening,’outside the Arc’ in God’s hands!’ “Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.” (Revelation 22:11).

May we never be a part of making the Lord regret He made us and grieve his heart. No matter how few there may be remaining faithful in the last days, the few can give the Lord some pleasure during the chaos, just as Noah and his family did.

I’d never realised that we could meet God’s need! That I could give God some pleasure!

“I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” (Hebrews 10:38).

“The fruit of the Spirit is… faithfulness (i.e., loyalty/unwavering/undistracted)” Galatians 5:22.

Copyright. Christine Smith. 2022. Living Devotions UK.

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