Week 6 – Admirable

Think for a minute—who do you admire? What is it about that person that makes them the object of your admiration?

We admire people for many reasons. We admire hardworking people who are successful in their careers. We admire those who are confident enough to pursue their dreams, even in the face of intense opposition. We admire people who have their finances well in order, Christians who are strong in their walk with the Father, and parents who manage to keep their cool in the midst of chaos.

This is just a sampling of the diverse qualities we tend to admire in others. What’s one thing these people all have in common?

They inspire us to want to be more like them.

Admiration inspires action! It stirs something inside of us, pushes us to become better versions of ourselves. The things and people we admire become signposts on the road to the person we ultimately become.

This is why it is of paramount importance for us to understand the things which God admires. If admiration is going to encourage us to move in a particular direction, then we need to carefully cultivate the objects of our admiration to move us closer to the sons and daughters God desires for us to become, and to the lives he wants us to live.

What qualities does God find admirable? There are so many! Here are just a few of the things God admires:

Obedience: “This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you.” Genesis 22:16-17a (NLT)

Humility: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor.” James 4:10 (NLT)

Gratitude: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

Generosity: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)

Purity: “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 (NLT) (More on purity here!)

This week, I want us to take an honest look at the things we admire. Are they inspiring us to move in a positive direction? Are they encouraging us towards a closer relationship with God? If not, what can we change? Let’s be intentional in our efforts to refocus the objects of our admiration to reflect those things which God most admires.