Devotional: Divine Favor

Divine Favor

What does it mean to have divine favor? Favor itself can be a goodwill gesture, versus payment for a debt or obligation. It certainly expresses approval, reward, and preference, often meaning someone has taking a liking to another - thus showing them favor. But it's the word "divine" added to the word "favor" that sets everything in a much different category. In this life, we often have moments or seasons of favor with others. Maybe we're the teacher's pet or the city's favorite son or daughter. But divine favor is nothing like the temporary favor of man. Divine means "from God."

Favor from God Himself can never be compared to favor from man - although God can move on man's heart to show favor to another. For example, Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38). If we trust and obey the scriptures in our giving, God promises to move on the hearts of others to give back to...multiplied. That's divine favor.

Solomon is another example. Following in the footsteps of his father David, Solomon worshipped God, always enlarging his offerings to Him. After one particular offering, the Lord spoke to Solomon in a dream and asked, "Ask! What shall I give you?" Solomon did not ask for wealth, long life, or vengeance on his enemies. Instead, he asked for wisdom. God took even more liking to Solomon because he was unselfish in his request and gave him the wisdom he asked for, plus all that he did not. This was divine favor.

"Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a a very great caravan, with camels that bore spices, very much gold and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her [she was breathless].
"Then she said to the king: 'It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness'" (1 Kings 10:1-9).

God's divine favor not only blesses the recipient, but it overwhelms and blesses others who witness it. In fact, if they didn't believe in God before, they often change their mind and become believers themselves, blessing and giving glory to God!

But I think the most precious aspect of God's favor is not wealth or fame - it is His mercy. To receive undeserved mercy from God is divine favor. Joseph found favor with the jailer after being accused of raping Potipher's wife. Ruth found favor with Boaz although she was a foreigner. Mephibosheth found favor with King David although he was the son of a former enemy. Esther found favor in the king's courtroom although she had broken the rules of entrance. The list could go on and on of God's divine favor given to His children.

The righteous are the children of God - those who came into right-standing with Him and found mercy (and favor). The blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, covers a multitude of sins, pulls people out of the miry pit and sets their feet upon a rock. His favor replaces their filthy rags with a robe of righteousness. Their guilty stains are permanently removed and their heart becomes His dwelling place. Yes, "His anger is but for a moment, [but] His favor is for life..." (Psalms 30:5).
The Apostle Paul understood divine favor: "I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, He was seen by more than 500 of His followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then He was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-10, New Living Translation).

And isn't that the testimony of us all? Regardless of who I was before, or what I've done, I am who I am now because of God's divine favor. May others see it, believe it, and receive it.