The Favor Of God, Pt. 3.

The favor of God is often referred to as something Christians should “claim.” It’s an odd concept, “claiming” a right as a Christian. To try to clarify what this means, I figured I’d share what it means for me, personally, to “claim” God’s favor in my life.

I make a point to constantly remind myself that I’m loved and favored by God. I tell myself that His favor is being poured out on me daily, like a huge barrel of honey. It covers me and smothers me from head to toe, and it’s super-sticky. And not only am I surrounded by it, but it rubs off onto those around me. It’s sweet and delicious and it’s meant to be shared.

Because just as God pours His thick favor upon ME, I am an ambassador of His favor to those around me. I am responsible to show unparalleled favor to the other people He puts me in contact with. It’s a cycle, and to get that flow started we sometimes have to jumpstart it with a sacrificial gift ourselves.

I say “sacrificial” because I believe that when we give something up and it actually costs us – financially, emotionally, etc. – such an act is noticed and rewarded by God. That’s exactly what I believe happened when He led me to give money away in October (and again this month). It hurt to give. But I sincerely believe my obedience unlocked His future gifts of favor that I would have cheated myself out of if I had decided to ignore or resist His leading.

Galatians 6:7 addresses this concept perfectly. “A man reaps what he sows.” You really can’t get any clearer than that, can you? Yet we all know people who make a habit of pointing to everyone else in their life as “the problem.” “If only THEY did this…” or “If only THEY weren’t so ______”  You get the picture.

Responsibility: it’s not for everyone. (Apparently…)

You want it? You gotta give it first. Whatever you sow – encouragement, money, love… negativity, greed, selfishness – you’re gonna reap.

Don’t like what you’ve been getting in this life?

Time to take a closer look at what you’re giving.

In the next few days I’ll be sharing how God’s favor has been unleashed in my life. How, by simply believing in His love and desire to bless me, I have received far more than I could have ever asked for. He has blessed me beyond my imagination (and my imagination is a mighty fertile playground, lemme tell ya).

The good news is He wants to do this for everyone. Every single one of us who claims Jesus as his savior is heir to the kingdom. Not just the kingdom in the next life, but everything that God wants to give us in this life as well. (And those of you who are only thinking in terms of cash or lottery winnings are thinking way too small. Trust me.)

More to come,

Kevin