IN OR OUT OF FAVOUR
Luke 2:40-52
“Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).
One divine virtue you cannot do without on earth if you must accomplish your earthly tasks, is favour. What can make a hopeless slave girl suddenly turn into a queen unopposed and an imprisoned slave suddenly become a world ruler without any form of opposition, can be nothing else than divine favour. God’s favour is very powerful. It can turn a business which started on a meagre amount into a large business empire. There is nothing favour cannot accomplish in the life of and situation of the favoured. It is so indispensable that even our Lord Jesus Christ could not do without it while here on earth.
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). If there was anyone who enjoyed favour, it was our Lord Jesus. He was born into favour. His birth was heralded by angels. He also grew in favour before God and men. He never ran out of favour. As an infant, the rulers of the day were under intense threat because of Him. Wise men travelled a long distance just to have an opportunity to bless Him. Prophecies concerning His birth and times were fulfilled while fresh ones were released into His future.
In this life, there will always be a difference between the one with favour and the one without favour. Everything under creation works for the one who is favoured of God. If God can smile at you, everything else will smile at you. Some people were born into favour like Jesus but unlike Him, they ran out of favour as they grew up. This is why parents must be very careful what they do, and how they live today as it could affect the destinies of their families sooner or later.
If you want to increase in favour, continue to do those things that please God. Obey Him promptly. Flee from secret and open sin. Sow into the lives of others, favour them, assist the needy and intercede for the distressed. Make others joyful on your account. Regularly visit and dwell in God’s presence. The Lord will favour you this season. When you are favoured, the sun, moon and stars will work for you.
According to Acts 2:47, favour also makes a difference between an ever increasing church and a stagnant church. Your church may not be growing because it is out of favour. Are you out of favour? Ask God to bring you into favour today and make you grow in it
PRAYER: Father, surround me with favour as a shield.
