Favor with God and Man

Based on Deuteronomy 22-24, Proverbs 3

"So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man."
Proverbs 3:4.

In the keeping of God's Word, we will find favor & good understanding in the sight of God...and man! Not only does God's Word apply to our personal relationship with God, but it helps us in our relationships with others. We need to be right with God in order to be the best we can be for other people! The world today needs people who are God-centered and not self-centered. When we obtain a humble & giving spirit through God's Word, we can be more effective in the world right now!

"Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones."
Proverbs 3:7‭-‬8.

In keeping our focus upon God first, we do not only keep a healthy relationship with Him, but we have good health in general! An all-around better person, if you ask me! And in keeping God the focus, we will find favor with Him, and in turn with others as well. We all want to stay healthy today, right?

"Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother." Deuteronomy 22:1.

In keeping a humble relationship with God, we can have a humble & sacrificial spirit toward others. If our friend has lost something, it is important to bring it back. Right now, the best we might be able to do is get back in touch with our family and friends if we have lost touch. That is a form of restoration & strengthening of relationship, and just remember to do the same with God!

"The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just." Proverbs 3:33.

Let's be just right, with God and Man! Remember when we talked about Balak & Balaam? Balak wanted to use Balaam to curse God's people, but God turned that curse into a blessing!

"An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord for ever: Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee. Nevertheless the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee."
Deuteronomy 23:3‭-‬5.

The Ammonites & Moabites did not want to extend their hands in help; they wanted to hurt & hinder God's people. But again, God made a blessing out of it! If we stay faithful to God, He stays faithful to us. If we help our neighbor, God blesses us. Our good standing with God & man is mainly dependant on our relationship with God! Jesus is the way! He is the example! He is God & has shown us the characteristics which we need to embody to live the best life we can in our world today-to have favor with God & man!

"And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee: For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee."
Deuteronomy 23:13‭-‬14.

It's time to take our paddles & "bury the hatchets" of our past grudges & uncleanness, toward God and others! Every day is a new chance to do that. God has given us many openings during this crucial time, because everything is closed! We can truly focus on re-connecting with God & others (even if we can't be in-person with others at this time!).

"Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do."
Deuteronomy 24:8.

We as a church need to have a good relationship with the authority figures providing us with restrictions & guidelines at this time. Just like the plague of leprosy, this coronavirus must not be taken lightly. We need to observe this time of separation, but again, use it to God's glory! Our connection with God is not limited to any certain building, and our connection with people has many capabilities today, too! We are not trapped. We just have to be creative!

"Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." Proverbs 3:27.

This Scripture goes for God & man! We need to give good to God & others!

"And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."
1 John 4:21.