How would you describe yourself to someone else? Would you describe yourself based on where you are from, your personality traits, the role you play in your family or your occupation? How do you want others to describe you? I do not know about you, but when others talk about me, I want them to talk about just how much I love God.
David had a reputation for his heart for God even before he became king of Israel. The book of Acts records Paul's teachings about the Israelites and David's reputation. In this chapter, Paul wrote about how the people of Israel "begged for a king" and were given King Saul (verse 21). Saul reigned for forty years until God rejected him because he was not fully devoted to following and obeying God (verse 22). God appointed David to replace Saul, as we learned in our Bible study together yesterday. Paul explains that when God spoke about David, He said, "I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do” (verse 22). What an incredible statement God made about David. David was a man after God’s own heart. One piece of evidence that David was a man after God’s own heart was his obedience. That is why God said of David, “He will do everything I want Him to do” (verse 22). David’s obedience was a marker that David was a man who was seeking the heart of God. David was certainly not perfect, but He loved God and repented when he made mistakes.
There is a direct correlation between being a man or woman after God's own heart and obedience. Seeking after God's heart, after all, means wanting to do what pleases Him and obey what He says. Remember, He is all-powerful and all-knowing, so our obedience will never be in vain.
How can you take steps to become a man or woman after God's own heart? Maybe you can spend more time with Him in prayer and reading Scripture. Maybe you can take the step of obedience that God has been calling you to take. Maybe you can sign up to serve at the church in order to help the body of Christ grow. Whatever step you feel God is leading you toward, begin to take that step today.
1 Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
4 So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus. 5 There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant.
6 Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing.
9 Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. 10 Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? 11 Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.
12 When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
13 Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14 But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia.
On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services. 15 After the usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.”
16 So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. “Men of Israel,” he said, “and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me.
17 “The God of this nation of Israel chose our ancestors and made them multiply and grow strong during their stay in Egypt. Then with a powerful arm he led them out of their slavery. 18 He put up with them through forty years of wandering in the wilderness. 19 Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years.
“After that, God gave them judges to rule until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people begged for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. 22 But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’
23 “And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel!
