THE KIND OF MAN (OR WOMAN) GOD WANTS

All of us have seen the recruiting sign saying that Uncle Sam "wants you." Another announces that "the Marines are looking for a few good men." God wants all people to be saved (I Timothy 2:4) and He does not wish for any to perish (II Peter 3:9). At the same time, God is looking for certain traits which please Him, and which are exemplified by good men and women of the Bible.

Body

I. God wants parents like Lois, and Eunice, who teach their children faith in Him.

   A. Faithful Grandmother Lois taught her daughter Eunice, who became a mother and taught her son Timothy (II Timothy 1: 5).

   B. The teaching of good parents is reinforced by the quality of their lives, and it deeply assures the heart of the child throughout life (II Timothy 3:14).

   C. Such teaching should begin in earliest childhood (Il Timothy 3:15). "Child" here literally means "infant."

   D. The Scriptures are very important because they lead to faith in Jesus -- and therefore to salvation. Because they are inspired of God, they are completely profitable for every teaching occasion and need (11 Timothy 3:15-17).

II. God wants lonely individuals like Enoch, who serve Him in spite of wicked surroundings.

   A. In some way Enoch learned that God was pleased with him. Since one cannot please God without faith, we know that Enoch was a man of deep and genuine faith (Hebrews 11:5, 6).

   B. Such faith enabled Enoch to please God in spite of very wicked surroundings. Only firmly-rooted trust in God would withstand the opposition he endured (Genesis 5:18-24).

   C. Such faith led him to hate sin, and to prophesy that God would come and convict the ungodly of their wicked conduct and hard talk against the righteous (Jude 14, 15). By faith Enoch waited for God's reward -and he found it, for God spared him normal death and "translated" him instead.

III. God wants men of proper values, like Paul, who keep their priorities straight and their estimates spiritually attuned.

   A. Paul knew that his own righteousness was nothing before God, and he longed to be found "in Christ," having the righteousness God gives on the basis of faith (Philippians 3:7-11).

   B. Paul knew that suffering now was nothing compared to the glory God will reveal when Christ comes, and so he endured with hope in God (Romans 8:18-25).

   C. Paul knew that things now seen are temporary, but that things not yet seen are eternal, and so he made it his constant aim to please God (II Corinthians 4:18 -- 5:10).

IV. God wants courageous disciples like Peter and John.

   A. By Jesus' power, Peter and John healed a lame man. This created great attention and attracted a crowd eager to hear what they had to say (Acts 3:1-11).

   B. Peter tells them that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the Father of Jesus Christ, and that through Jesus they may find the blessed fulfillment of all God's Old Testament promises and prophecies (Acts 3:12-26).

   C. The self-centered religious leaders heard of this, and through envy they jailed Peter and John over night. The next morning they "grilled" them, but the apostles simply witnessed to them-about the Lord as well! In a quick private conference, the leaders decided to sternly warn Peter and John, and then to turn them loose (Acts 4:1-18).

   D. To this, Peter and John boldly answered: "We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19, 20).

V. God wants people of purity like Joseph.

   A. Joseph resisted the advances of Potiphar's wife "day by day," avoiding sin against God and the woman's husband (Genesis 39). He was ruled by conscience, not by circumstances.

   B. Joseph was imprisoned because of her lies, but in the end, God advanced Joseph far beyond his original position and glory.

VI. God wants people like Noah who will practice justice.

   A. In a wicked world, Noah still practiced God's principles of justice, fairness and righteous dealings (Genesis 6:5-11).

   B. Many centuries later, he was still remembered as a man of great character and influence for good (Ezekiel 14:14).

   C. It is not easy to deal fairly with others, to avoid prejudice, to be honest -- when all around are doing the opposite. But it wins the approval of God, and that is most important.

Conclusion

Many other examples could be given of many other traits God desires. These few give us food for thought and goals for our own growth. "Go, thou, and do likewise!"

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