As I contemplated this question, I concluded God loves the “response” of some more than others.
Like parents and children, one child might do as directed most of the time while the other doesn’t. Parents do not love the obedient child more than the other; however, they do love the obedient child’s response more than the disobedient response. The obedient response shows a desire to please the parents by doing as told. (its a response of love)
In Scripture, we learn that Jesus died for everyone in the world and that God shows no partiality. Scripture also tells us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and Jesus said if we love Him, we will keep His commandments.
David was considered a man after God’s Own Heart; why? God tells us: “He will do my will.” Saul, on the other hand, lost his kingdom for doing “his own” will, not God’s.
King David made many huge mistakes and, unlike Christ, was far from perfect, yet David constantly turned to and relied on God; David pursued righteousness. (Respecting God and doing His will mattered to David)
We all have the same choice!
We can choose to follow God’s will by study, learning, and following the commands and examples of Scripture, to the best of our ability, or we can choose to follow our feelings, our ideas, or those adopted from others, then woefully expecting that if we are wrong, God will be ok with us because we had good intent. However, that is not what Scripture tells us, and when we do this, we set examples that mislead others from following Christ according to the directions God gave us in His Holy Word.
When we follow God according to His will, we spend our lives pursuing righteousness. In James chapter 5, we find the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. To have our prayers accomplish much, pursuing righteousness should be our goal so that our hearts may be where King David’s was in devotion to God.
John 3:16 tells us: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
“So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation, anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.” Act 10:34-35
“And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom He testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after My heart, who will do all My will.’” Acts 13:22 ESV
“But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over His people because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” Samuel 13:14
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16 NASB
God First!
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