On this “Help for Today,” we’re closing out Proverbs 16 in verse 7. When a man’s ways please the Lord—that’s what we looked at two days ago. Strive to live to please God every day. And then we looked at yesterday, “he maketh even his enemies.” When we live to please the Lord, we’re going to make some enemies. That’s not our goal. That’s not our heart. That’s not our desire. But that’s just the reality.

And Peter even said, “Arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. We’re going to have enemies.” That’s just the reality of life. But the promise is found at the end of the verse. It says, “he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Now that doesn’t happen right away. This is a promise that comes after we day in and day out, week in and week out, month in and month out, year after year, strive to please the Lord. God says, “Hey, here’s my promise to you. Your enemies will be at peace with you.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to make enemies. But I certainly want to please the Lord. And here’s what I realized, the greatest ways for me to live this life, to not be at odds with others, is to be willing to be at odds with them by striving to please the Lord. And if I do that long enough, God’s promise to me is that even my enemies will be at peace with me.

I pray today that you’ll choose to claim this promise and just strive to please God every day and claim the promise your enemies will be at peace with you. Ask Esther, it worked for her. Ask Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, it worked for them. Ask Daniel and on the list goes. So let’s strive to please the Lord today.

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John Evertson

John Evertson, GSBC Campus Pastor

In June 2000, after graduating from Golden State Baptist College, John Evertson answered the call to pastor West Valley Baptist Church in Woodland, California. After 19 years, God moved Pastor and Mrs. Evertson to Santa Clara. Pastor Evertson is instrumental in the church and serves as the Campus Pastor for Golden State Baptist College to help guide the future servants of God. Pastor & Mrs. Evertson have four children — Josiah, Jeremiah, Joy, and Joshua.