We have spent the past three weeks learning about one specific identity point that you and I carry if we are in Christ.
We are favored.
Even though we spent three weeks unpacking this truth, I feel as if we only scratched the surface of all that God has to say about us being favored. We could spend a year or more studying the favor of God on our lives, and still there would be more to uncover. God is that good. He is that big.
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” Romans 11:33
I love how the Apostle Paul captured this idea in Romans 11:33. God’s ways are beyond our ability to trace out. The knowledge and wisdom of God are so deep, we could never reach their depths. His favor for us is beyond our comprehension. If we are so favored by God, what does this say about WHO HE IS? We’ve spent much time in this study learning about WHO WE ARE in Christ, but ultimately, that knowledge is intended to point us toward an even more significant understanding:
We want to know our God.
Every ounce of Bible study would be in vain if the primary, desired end result is not to know Jesus Christ more. Knowing Him is everything. Knowing Him changes everything. Therefore, our pursuit today is the character of God. We want to know who He is. If God says that we are favored, what does that say about Him?
1. God is generous.
Now that we have a firm grasp and understanding on what it means to be favored (to be the recipient of God’s excessive kindness and unfair partiality), we can only conclude that He is a very generous God. Generosity expresses itself through giving, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned this week about favor it’s that God has given us MUCH in Him. He has not withheld one spiritual blessing from us. In Him, we know no lack. That is generosity, my friends. That is a generous God who gives out of His abundant resources.
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.” Psalm 84:11
2. God is abundant.
If you and I have been so richly favored by God, we can also conclude that He is an abundant God. He would have to be to give so lavishly. I looked up the word “abundant.” Take a minute to read the definition below. How does the abundance of God make you feel?
Abundant: present in great quantity; more than adequate; over-sufficient; well-supplied with something; abounding; richly supplied, as with resources
Every good thing God gives us comes from His own abundant supply. He is not lacking in anything that we need. He is well-resourced. He is more than enough, and He has more than enough to give to us. So, have we chosen to make Him our portion, the source of our provision, the place where all of our needs can be met?
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
Notice the wording here in verse 19: “all your needs.” It does not say “some of your needs.” It says “all.” An accurate view of who God is will always prove to shape an accurate view of who you are in Him. You, my friend, are favored by a generous and abundant God.
So, how do we reconcile our perceived lack with the favor of God on our lives? There are many times in my life when my needs seem to go unmet, and when my prayers seem to go unheard or unanswered. Then what? Every time my circumstances don’t make sense, I am forced to return to WHO GOD SAYS HE IS, not who my circumstances might suggest He is. Can you see the difference?
Our circumstances will NEVER change the character of God.
Never. He remains the same, even when our situations shift and change. He is WHO HE SAYS HE IS. He’s God. He alone gets to determine who He is…not us, not what happens to us, not what happens in this world. When I find myself confused, I repeatedly run to this truth:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
God sees the whole picture. I do not. God has infinite wisdom and understanding. I do not. BUT, I can trust Him, and so can you. Because God is generous and abundant, you are FAVORED.
Jesus, may I never forget WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE. Help me to trust you when my world doesn’t make sense to me. You are generous in all of your dealings with me, and I am favored. Teach me to walk in this identity.
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