The Favor of God

If you could ask for one thing this year, what would it be?

I would submit that nothing could be better to ask for than to live in the Favor of God.

In the familiar Christmas Story passage of Luke 2, we hear the multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14, NIV)

In the ESV, this verse is rendered, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

That begs the question, with whom is God pleased?  On whom does God’s favor rest?  I certainly want

to be among those whom it does, and I hope you do too!

We see clearly in the following chapter, and not surprisingly, that God is pleased with His Son Jesus.

In Luke 3:22 when Jesus has just been baptized, God the Father announces, “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased!”

Why was God “well pleased” with Jesus, and can we learn anything from that for our own walk with God?  I believe that a key reason, among many reasons, is that the baptism of Jesus represents Jesus’ commitment to following God’s Will for His life including His ultimate death on the cross.

God also has a perfect Will for your life and for mine.  And God will be pleased as we submit to and commit to doing His Will.

At the end of Luke 2, we see another familiar verse, “And Jesus grew in wisdom, and in stature, and in favor with God and with man.” (Luke 2:52, ESV) Isn’t it interesting that Jesus grew in favor with God?  We grow in favor with God as we continue to walk in faith and obedience to His leading.

Are you living in the Favor of God?  Are you growing in favor with God by continuing to walk in faith and obedience to Him?  Trust God by doing His Will today and you will find yourself living and growing in His Favor.