A FAVOR FROM GOD

Psalm 44:3 KJV

[3] For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

     God’s hand, his arm and the very light of his being is a favor of God to us.  It is not a favor for which payment is required for it certainly is not earned nor is it political in nature.  This favor is the pure mercies and grace of God toward us.

     I would like to discuss the favor of God in two ways using “favor” as a noun and then as a verb.  First looking at God’s favor as a noun, it is no stretch for us to say that God loads us with his favors.  Favor could certainly be used in place of grace, in that God grants us special blessings that we in no way deserve.  To have the daughters and sons in law that I have is a favor of God.  Having my grandchildren is a sign of God’s favor.  God’s favor is at its height as I recognize that he has made a way through Jesus for me to be a saved man.  Oh! Glory to God!

      For me to get a college education was a favor from God.  There was a scholarship provided for me that paid a portion of my schooling that was set up by a family from Horton Alabama to be used for a man in the ministry.  They had passed away many years before my time of schooling.  The scholarship had never been touched.  I had pastored New Prospect Baptist Church.  According to the foundation records, where this scholarship was set up, this family were members of New Prospect Church.  No one from the church knew these folks or had ever heard of them.  I believe God showed me a special favor by making a way for me to acquire this education.

     There is also “favor” as a verb.  God has favored me.  He has created me to be a unique person and therefore he treats me accordingly.  As I look at my walk with the Lord I can truly say it is like no other walk.  He has favored me with abilities that I never knew I had.  He has blessed me with blessings that I would have never known outside of my relationship with Jesus.  God has favored me with peace that soothes my soul presently and will be my comfort when it is my time to die. I am favored with joy so that even when bad things happen to me I still possess the joy of the Lord.  When standing against evil, I know he favors me.  In worship and praise to him I know he favors me.  When I am doing his will I know I am favored of him.

     A favorite response of one of my friends to someone’s question of how he is doing is always “I am blessed and highly favored.”  This is an enormous truth, for God has richly blessed me with a good relationship with my wife, family and church but he has blessed me with a heavenly relationship with him.   I am blessed and highly favored!  Thank you Lord!

Yours in Christ,

 

Brother Randy Burtram

 

(Originally published January 19, 2020)