16,17 Feb -- What makes God grieve (& what makes God pleased)

The readings for Fri 16 & Sat 17 Feb are Gen 5,6; Ps 2:7-12; Pro 1:7; Mt 3.

What grieves God? It's pretty obvious from Gen 6:5-6. The LORD was grieved in His heart when He "saw that man's wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time". Evil grieves God. True, but a bit abstract. Let's get personal. God grieves over the evil things people do and the evil in their hearts. Now let's get real personal, and honest. The evil motivations and actions of you and me grieve God.

"Repent!" said John the Baptist. That's what we all must do. It means to grieve over our evil and to turn away from it to God. A total turn-about. One that's so dramatic it's like dying to the old life and being born to a new one. As perfectly symbolised in baptism.

I feel sorry for God. How great His grief! In the beginning "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good" (Gen 1:31). But then "God saw how corrupt the earth was" (Gen 6:12). Then centuries later the religious leaders were a "brood of vipers" (Mt 3:7). Then you and me, and the grief we've given.

But fortunately some have given God pleasure.
* Like Noah. He was a "blameless", "righteous man" who "did everything that God had commanded him". He "walked with God" and "found favour in the eyes of the LORD" (Gen 6).
* Like John the Baptist. "Among those born of women there has risen no one greater" said Jesus.
* Like Jesus himself. "This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased" said God's voice from heaven (Mt 3).
* Like you and me??? Remember the first purpose from 40DOP? -- You were planned for God's pleasure. To quote Rick (p63), "Bringing enjoyment to God, living for his pleasure, is the first purpose of your life."