Finding Favor

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
FINDING FAVOR
Prov 12:2
2 A good man obtains favor from the LORD,
but the LORD condemns a crafty man.
NIV
Here is one more advantage of being counted as one of the righteous by God. I think it is a really good thing to obtain favor or as the Hebrew implies, have God delight in me. What greater thing could there ever be than to have God delight in my being. One of the things he has said is to find out what pleases him. So I would think that anyone who has become a believer makes it their life goal to find out what pleases the lord so he would be delighted with them. Although I suppose just the simple fact that I accepted his provision, his Son as my Lord and Savior is surely enough to please him. I would think that alone would cause him to delight in me, knowing that I will be able to spend eternity with him as he originally designed. If I did nothing else I think just because of that I would obtain favor from the Lord, but I know there is more in that title, “good man”. I believe that implies a whole life of pleases God. All my motives, my thoughts, my character, my behavior, my actions and reactions, and my words are included in being a good man. I think some men could appear on the outside, that is their personality, as being a good man, but inwardly, they true character is not so. That to me would be being a crafty man. As ashamed as I am of when I react in a wrong manner, that is who I am. I think I am as transparent as I can be. I try not to be someone I am not, nor do I make any bones about who I am. I have never said I was perfect, I indeed have many faults, failures and downfalls, but I am a work in progress, God is not finished with me yet, and I doubt he will ever be until he takes me home. Just because I am a man of faith and trust God completely does not make me a perfect man, but it does make me a good man. Do I have some contradictions in my life? That is do I say I am one way, but act in another way. Maybe that is so, but it is not an intentional behavior, it is merely humanity at its weakest. I will always contend it is my desire to please God. Yes, I fail. It is not an excuse for my failing, but who among us here does not fail God. I do not believe I stand alone. But still I truly believe in the final analysis I am a good man and I have surely obtained favor from my Lord.