amazing grace

Favor of the Lord

Dr. Mike Knowing God , ,

Luke 1:26-31

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.  And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

favor2

Sometimes we hold unto blissful expectations which eventually become painful disappointments. Take the concept of wanting to experience the favor of the Lord. Most humans would desire the favor of the Lord. We picture ourselves sitting on a royal chair with subjects, having a life of ease and comfort, and all our desires fully satisfied. Yet reality speaks differently as Mary experienced through her life.

Yes, she was favored by the Lord to be the birth mother of the Son of God. But life wasn’t really a bowl of peaches because of it. Think of all she had to endure through the process?

She was an unmarried woman pregnant with child living is a small village where everybody generally knows everyone else’s business. Per the old Jewish oracles, a woman without a husband and pregnant was to be stoned to death. How favored of a life would you say living out each day hiding your condition from your parents and siblings and neighbors is? What about spending the last month of your pregnancy riding a donkey and/or walking for 80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to take part in a census? And of course, to give birth in a non-sanitized environment without the support of family or friends. Is this the favored life?

To be favored by God is a blessing. You know He has your back. But the process of every day challenges and threats still remain. To be favored by God is an adventurous life and not necessarily a safe one. Yet to know you are being held in His Grip through all the ups and downs life throws your way is a blessing and comfort to the soul.

Even with suffering or pain that comes our way, we rather be favored by God than not. How about you?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

*  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
*  Great Business Emulates a Good God
*  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
*  Simply The Messenger
*  Unequally Married

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Copyright 2013-2019 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

 

Grace Unlimited

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , ,
1 Peter 5:10 ESV.
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

 

What is grace?

Many people I speak with seem to think it has only to do with the forgiveness of your sins. Others believe it is so much more. I being one.

Grace is simply defined as “unmerited favor.” Yes our Lord Jesus extended His grace upon us by removing mankind’s Sin of rebellion. But grace is so much more.

When Peter preached his first sermon on the Feast of Pentecost immediately after Christ’s resurrection, he quoted from the prophet Joel who stated in the latter days God’s Spirit will be poured out upon all humanity. The result is a manifestation of acts leading toward human flourishing. Without God extending His grace upon us through His Spirit, we would not be experiencing the richness of this planet. God is in the business of pouring out His grace upon us because He is the source of everything good.

Whether we pursue Him or not, His goodness and unmerited favor is showered everyday upon this planet. He feeds the ignorant and unjust. He hears the prayers of every person no matter their denomination or belief. Whether He answers or how He answers is another matter. But He knows. He grants unmerited favor upon people who serve His purpose. He allows the unrighteous to live longer than others knowing that time may breakdown their hard hearts.

When suffering seems overwhelming and the solutions are few, He showers His unmerited favor upon us. Yes we may hurt for a moment, but He is there to help carry us through. He is the author of grace and the sustainer of grace. He realizes our fragility. From His love, we experience His favor not because who or what we do, but because of who He IS. We don’t earn or buy His favor. Instead we place our trust in Him and allow His natural self rub off unto us. We realize the more we come to know Him and develop a strong, intimate relationship with Him for no other reason but to know Him and appreciate Him for who He IS, everything else will work out because of Who He IS.

Grace unlimited. How sweet the sound.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

*  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
*  Great Business Emulates a Good God
*  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
*  Simply The Messenger
*  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2018 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved