I was teaching recently and asked the audience who they thought really deserved God’s favor. I then told them to take a piece of paper sometime, and write down a list of people that they thought really ought to receive favor from God.
“If your name is not on that list,” I said, “Well, why not?” “Why do you think that you really shouldn’t receive favor from God?” “Is it because of what you have done, or is it because of what you haven’t done?”
Who Really Deserves It?
When you stop and just think about it for a minute, who really deserves God’s favor? Who could possible earn favor from God? And yet the Scriptures are plain that God has freely extended His grace and favor.
If you are a fan of the Bible and you have read from the New Testament, then you have undoubtedly read many, many promises; promises of health, prosperity, all your needs being met, help, and deliverance. None of those promises come with stipulations, do they? Are there certain rules and restrictions? Of course not.
Those promises are God’s offer of His grace and favor. He has freely extended His grace and favor. We, on the other hand, so many times, object to His good favor. Object? Yes. How?
We really would love to receive what God has promised, but something inside of us is saying, “You don’t deserve it. You are not good enough. You haven’t prayed long enough. You haven’t done this; but you have done a lot of that.”
In other words, our feelings of unworthiness cause us to object to or reject the kind favor He is extending to us. Instead of having arms out and palms up ready to receive His blessings, we push the blessings away. We do this because we do not feel worthy.
Are We Really Imposing?
Have you ever offered something to someone and they responded by saying, “No thank you, I don’t want to impose?” For example, inviting someone to dinner, who was indeed hungry, only to have them say that they didn’t want to impose upon your kind hospitality. They objected because of how they feel about themselves. They not only feel unworthy, but they also feel like they have not really earned a spot at your table.
When it comes to God’s favor and His grace and blessings, it has nothing to do with earning it. It has nothing to do with being worthy of it. It has nothing to do with earning it.
His grace and favor have been extended to us. He is the One who made the promises. He is the One who will keep His word. He is the One who has extended Himself to us, regardless of our response.
No, you cannot earn His favor. Neither can I. No, you do not deserve His favor. Neither do I. But it has been extended to us. We can accept it or reject it.
Here’s A Great Key
The first key in receiving more of God’s favor in your life is to accept and believe who God says that you are. As a Christian, the Bible says that you are not only saved, but that you have been made righteous. That simply means you are now right in His sight; you belong.
So, do you feel righteous? Do you feel all right to be in His presence? Or, do you feel ashamed and unworthy? Do you feel guilty and condemned?
If you feel guilty and condemned or ashamed and unworthy, then just ask for forgiveness. He will forgive you. The Bible says that if our heart doesn’t condemn us, then we will have confidence toward God.
Another Key
The second key in receiving more of God’s favor is to simply expect it; anticipate it. Believe you are who the Bible says that you are. Stay convinced of God’s love for you. The Scriptures tell us that nothing can separate us from God’s love.
Anticipate, look for and expect God’s favor in your life and on your life. And if you write down a list of people who you think really, really ought to receive God’s favor, make sure your name is at the top of the list.
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