God's Favor?
Submitted by: David Andrew Moore
God's favor is a tricky topic, because God doesn't play favorites. Even though He doesn't play favorites, you can still find "favor" in His sight. How is this possible?
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 (KJV)
Everyone has favor in God's sight, that's what I believe. Everyone has favor, but they have to take of it. They have to believe in Jesus Christ, but this brings a question: If everyone has favor, can it be called "favor?" Think about the word favor for a moment. My grandmother treated me like I was her favorite grand child. If she had treated all the other ones with such favor, then how could one of us be her favorite? We would all be equals. We are equals in the sight of God, but some of us have actually found His favor. Some of us have not found that favor that comes with accepting Jesus Christ. My theory is that the word, "favor" is not in God's vocabulary! It's not really favor when it's available to everyone.
"David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee." 1 Samuel 17:37 (KJV)
"Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied." 1 Samuel 17:45 (KJV)
"And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang [it], and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth." 1 Samuel 17:49 (KJV)
David brought the giant Goliath down. This is a miracle that is still talked about today; everyone uses this as an example of faith. Such miracles are available to everyone even now, but they are available to those who choose to believe. Having God's "favor" is a choice. It's a choice for you to make. People are healed every day by Jesus Christ, not because He loves them more than He loves you... but because they have more faith than you in their God.
"For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him." Genesis 21:2 (KJV)
Sarah was unable to have children when she was young, and God had promised that she would bear Abraham's seed. The promise didn't come in effect until their old age. She had given up hope because she was too old to have children her time of fertility was over, but Abraham didn't give up hope. My point? The same "favor" that was available to the King David and to Abraham is available to you.
"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Matthew 17:20 (KJV)
God does not pick favorites; God lets us choose to be favorites!