FAVOR COMES FROM GOD!

Favor those who have been favored. Favor comes from the Lord so rejoice with those who have found favor with the Lord. Romans 12:15 says, to rejoice with those who are rejoicing. The New Living Translation says to "be happy" with those who are happy.

Celebrate them and with them. The key word in the NLT version is "be” Be means to exist, live, take place, to occupy a place or position. In this context, favor those who are favored, join in and take a position of favoring them as God has favored. Romans 12:10 says to be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves in fact, to honor someone who the Lord favors is honoring the Lord Himself. 1 Samuel 2:30 states, “For those who honor me I will honor and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”

God has a purpose and plan for those who He bestows favor. In Scripture, there are many displays of God’s favor bestowed on His people.

• God’s sovereign plan to save His chosen people is demonstrated in the favor that Esther found with the king. Esther 5:2- As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she won his approval. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther and the result is “her life is spared at her request and her people at her desire (Esther 5:7).”

• Moses, Exodus 33:17 states, "now if I have indeed found favor in your sight now consider that this nation is your people. Then the Lord replied, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

• David, The Book of Acts 7:46 states, He found favor in God's sight and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who actually built Him a temple as the Lord favored David.

• Gideon, Judges 6:17 states, "Then he said to Him. If I have found favor in your sight give me a sign that you are speaking with me. Please do not leave this place until I return to you. Let me bring a gift and set it before you. And the Lord said, "I will stay until you return."

• Daniel, Daniel 1:9 states, God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief officials.

• Mary, Luke 1:30 states, Mary, the mother of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, Mary for you have found favor with God.

• Jesus, Luke 2:52 states, Jesus grew in wisdom, and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Psalm 84:11 states, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord gives grace and glory no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

We must trust God's perspective at all times or better yet trust His vantage point. His vantage point is the Kingdom of Heaven. Isaiah 55:9 states, “For as the Heaven is higher than earth. So, my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Closing with a praying of Psalm 90:17 states, Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish for us the work of our hands and establish the work of our hands! In Jesus name. Please let me know you have enjoyed this podcast and please share with others. Bible versions: HSCB and NLT.