How to Make a Good Impression

I happened to run across these verses today and they reminded me of proper priorities -- that our list of what is important should parallel God's list:

This is what the LORD says:
Let not the wise man boast (glory in) his wisdom
or the strong man boast (glory in) his strength
or the rich man boast (glory in) his riches
But let him who boasts (glories in) boast (glory)in this:
that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth,
For in these I delight.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

So we shouldn't try to impress God with wealth, earthly success, friends in high places, friends in low places, our "borrowed" wisdom.....those things, which will impress the world around us, will never impress our God.

So if we really want to please God today, we should seek kindness, justice and righteousness. That's what delights Him. It's true. It says so. And that's what we wants us to understand.And as we get to know Him, we will better understand Him.

Today. Right now.

The idea that we can "please" God is still a mystery to me. I can see how a good God (and He is Goodness itself) could perhaps pity us, even have compassion on His pitiful creatures on this rebellious planet, but that He could find pleasure in us -- now that's way beyond my imagination.

The LORD your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

He will take great delight in us?
He will rejoice over us?

But that's what He says.......what pleases Him is our paying forward (because we can't pay Him back) His kindness, justice and righteousness to everyone around us. That's how we extend His grace. And it starts with kindness.

Today. Right now.