Can you and I get our act together to such a degree that we receive more favor from God so He will bless us more? Protect us more? Prosper us more? Heal us more?

Some do think living a better Christian life than others do results in them receiving more of God’s favor. If it’s true, the better life you live the more of God’s favor you get, that means His favor is obtained by our works. But is that true?

The word for God’s favor, or grace, as it is mostly translated in the Bible, is defined as: good will, loving-kindness, favor. So does God extend that good will, loving kindness and favor based on how we live our lives? I say, “No, He does not!”

Before you yell, “Blasphemer!” consider this: being saved, or obtaining salvation, is pretty big, isn’t it? Is it from our works, or because of God’s grace? Ephesians two is very clear in telling us twice in Chapter Two, salvation is by grace, and not from our works!

Romans 10 is also very clear in saying if we confess or acknowledge Jesus as lord and believe in our heart God raised him from the dead, we shall be saved. Again, being saved, or having salvation is huge! What could we ever possibly obtain that could top that?

I once heard grace explained as something not deserved or earned. God’s favor or grace is His giving that which we do not earn or deserve, like salvation or eternal life.

Of course I’m in favor of living my life the best I can according to my understanding of God’s Word, but it has no bearing on whether God is more gracious or not. God determines His favor or grace, and you and I cannot force that.

However, the more I grow in my own personal walk and relationship with Him, the more confidence I have in Him. The more I accept His Word as true, the more I believe and accept what He says, the more I will receive what He has promised in His Word.

When you think about it, aren’t all His promises an obvious manifestation of God’s favor?

God extended His grace and favor 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.

When it comes to God’s favor and grace and blessings, it has nothing to do with earning it. It has nothing to do with being worthy of it.

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 are the ones who can now accept it or reject it.

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