“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.” – Luke 2:52 (NKJV)
There is a story of an elderly woman who tended a small garden. Regardless of the season, her plants flourished, seemingly against all odds. One day, her granddaughter asked, ‘How do you always get such good results with your plants?’ She simply replied, ‘God’s favour, child. I give my best, and He brings the growth.’ Living in God’s favour is like this—being nurtured by His hand and flourishing through every season (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
This week, we will explore a series on honour as a currency and what it can obtain for believers. Recognising that favour is a result of honour, we will discuss the concept of favour with God and men. However, today’s focus is on finding favour with God.
From our anchor text, we see that favour is an important phenomenon. If even the Son of God required favour with God and men and the Bible noted it, this shows that favour is crucial to come into the fullness of God’s plans for us. Favour can grow in your life, but it can also diminish, depending on how you position yourself and handle the favour you’ve received. Favour isn’t luck; it’s not beyond our influence. We can step in and out of favour.
Favour with God is like a shield (Psalm 5:12). It is God standing with you against all odds (Isaiah 43:2). His favour is our defence (Romans 8:31). Favour with God was His choosing Mary, out of all qualified virgin women in the world, to carry Jesus Christ our Saviour (Luke 1:30-31). God’s favour was demonstrated when He anointed David, the shepherd boy, as king out of his more seemingly able siblings (1 Samuel 16:11-13). And favour with God might be as simple as His equipping you with wisdom, strength, and resources as you grow in Christ and fulfil His purpose for your life.
God’s favour is available to anyone willing to key into it. Salvific favour is available to every believer saved by grace through faith. There is also the favour that people of the old covenant received from God by being in alignment with God’s salvific plan. And then, there is favour with God as a reward for obedience as you walk in His will for your life. Understanding this leads you to know how to increase in favour.
To increase in God’s favour is as simple as honouring Him by seeking His will and following it. His blessings are embedded in His will for us, and consistent obedience keeps us in His favour. Another way is to favour what God favours—find out what God is doing in your community and become a part of it. Honouring God with your finances is also key, as is living a life of service and making yourself available for His use.
A life without God’s favour will be filled with unnecessary struggle and frustration. It is impossible to fulfil your purpose without having favour with God.
Dear believer, make it your life’s goal to grow in favour with God, so you can fully step into all He has planned for you.
Bible Reading Plan: Hebrews 13