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“And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”¹

Wouldn’t you want to be a recipient of God’s favor? Is there a way of obtaining the grace of God? Are there things that endear us to him; and things that repulse him?

Throughout the Bible, the Scripture clearly and explicitly states that wickedness is an abomination to God—it is extremely hateful, “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.²

Here’s the rub! Is there anything acceptable from a degenerate man to a holy God? Just like water and oil don’t mix, a sinful man cannot come into the presence of God. Thus, our need for a Savior. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.³

To please God these are some of the prerequisites:
1. You must be accepted by the Beloved and be considered family. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us . . .⁴ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.⁵

2. You must have faith. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.⁶ Faith is not wishful thinking nor positivism; not something we conjure whenever we have a need and instruct God like a genie to fulfill our whim. But regardless of circumstance we hold fast to the word of God fully assured of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.⁷

3. You must be fruitful. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.⁸

4. You must work heartily. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.⁹ Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth. You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.¹⁰

If you are a child of God, lift up your eyes. Your help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.¹¹ AMEN!