Article: Are you favored by God? | Jacob Varghese, India
I would like to quote an interesting verse found in Proverbs 16:7 which says, “When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone’s way, He causes their enemies to make peace with them.” There will be no more enemies for the children of God. People may try to give you a hard time but they will fail miserably. They will have no chance to get any closer to you. After spending most of their time and energy, finally, they will say “I am not able to touch this person”. Eventually, they will come to know about our Lord and will receive Him in their heart. They will become your friend. No arrow of the enemy will be able to touch you.
The favor of God can be described as “tangible evidence that a person has the approval of the Lord.” The “favor of God” can be described as a divine kindness, or an act of true compassion on the part of God Himself toward needy and undeserving human recipients. When we favor someone, we want to be with him or her. We delight in them. We connect with them in a way we don’t connect with everyone. In the same way, God shows favor to the ones who delight in, connect with, and give honor to Him. Favor is closely related to grace in the Bible. Those who have received Jesus as their Savior are saved by grace through faith. In Ephesians 2:8–9, we read “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” So, those who have faith in God’s Son are declared righteous (Romans 4:5; Philippians 3:9) and live in God’s favor. The most basic answer to “how can one get God’s favor” is “believe in the Lord Jesus.”
The most important act of God’s favor is the God-given ability for us to have Eternal Life. Many Christians believe they have to somehow earn the favor of God, but the truth is, we already have His favor. God saved us because of His favor toward us. We are saved by His favor, and I am not just talking about going to heaven when we die. To be saved means to be delivered, protected, preserved, healed and made whole. God’s favor covers every area of our lives! By His favor, He has taken care of everything we will ever need—spirit, soul and body.
If God’s favor is upon us, even our enemies will bless us. When the season comes for God to lift us up, He will put favor in the hearts of someone who can do it for us. In Genesis 12:3 we read God’s promise to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Here, firstly we see that God promises Abraham that He will bless Him and others through him. Not only did God assure to bless Abraham but also assured him that He will curse those who curse him. When God blesses you, you will turn out to be a blessing to others and that is exactly what God wanted Abraham to be. Abraham received God’s protection and so no curse could devour him. Yes, my dear Friends, God protects His children under His wings that when people curse, the curse cannot penetrate through the protection given by God. The curse will bounce back to them. No weapon shall be able to touch them. We are destined to receive blessings all the time being under the mighty wings of our Lord. Only blessing and no curse any more.
“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90:17) Actually, we can’t get away from God’s favor. 2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him”. God is always searching for someone to bless. That is His nature. He is full of mercy and compassion. Because of His favor, He looks for someone who is ready to trust Him; someone who is ever ready to reach out in faith to receive His favor and blessing. God shows us favor when we express remorse over our sin. Romans 10:9 says “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Do you have a situation where things are not working out for you? Probably, it has been months or years, and nothing is changing in life in your favor. It may be an adverse medical condition, hard-hitting finances, children not settled and you feel a breakthrough is getting delayed. Now, the future seems blurred and you are on the threshold of giving up. At such times it is easy to get discouraged and be all negative. God is telling you today, “Do not be discouraged. I am going to thrust you to a new level because of my favor.” The psalmist said God’s favor surrounds us like a shield. That means everywhere you go you have an advantage, a divine presence, opening up the right doors, causing things to fall in its place and giving you the right break. Let me conclude with a very simple illustration: I remember going to my grandfather’s house when I was a child. He had a small shop and he used to take me every day with him to his shop. Children of that village used to come to pay money and pick up toffees and chocolates but I could pick up any chocolate which I want absolutely free. That is the favor because I am his grandchild. When we are the sons of the Almighty God, we are favored by God.
Jacob Varghese
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