The Daily Word: Friday, November 12th, 2021
Ezekiel 24:1-26:21
Hebrews 11:1-16
Psalm 110:1-7
Proverbs 27:14
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. – Heb. 11:5
Enoch was one of two people in the Old Testament who completely avoided death.[1] Enoch “walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Gen. 5:24). God loved Enoch so much that He allowed Enoch to completely bypass death and took him straight up into Heaven!
God took Enough because Enoch pleased God. Isn’t that the honest cry of your heart? You just want to please God? The result for you will be the same as it was for Enoch: when you are righteous, you will not “see death.” God will take you up to Heaven, and you will avoid death and decay!
So how do you “please God?” Look at verse 6:
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” You are not pleasing to God because of your behavior! What pleases Him is your faith. You become a son or daughter – a child of God! – by faith in Jesus Christ.
You don’t have to try to please God. If you “believe that He is” (v 6), He already looks upon you with pleasure. You are pleasing to Him: not because of what you do, but because of who you are by faith.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for being pleased with me! I know the only thing that makes me pleasing to You is my faith. I will stop trying to be perfect! Instead, I am asking for more faith, in Jesus’ name!
© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.
[1] The other was Elijah; see 2 Kings 2:11