Identity Point #4: You are favored.

“He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:8

To be favored is to be the recipient of excessive kindness or unfair partiality. Getting what you don’t deserve and not getting what you do deserve. A blended perfection of mercy and grace. Favored. Did you know that in Christ, you are favored?

I have been loving our study of the book of Ephesians so far as we’ve looked at our identity in Christ. Just in the first few verses of this book, we are given so many identity points that counter everything that we have heard in the world. Everyone and everything seems to shout at us a different word than what God’s Word speaks over us.

Your past will tell you that you’re inferior and have been forgotten. God speaks a better Word over you and says, “In me, you are chosen.”

Your past will say to you that you are discarded and rejected. God speaks a better Word over you and says, “In me, you are adopted.”

Your past will say to you that you are condemned. God speaks a better Word over you and says, “In me, you are forgiven.”

Your past will tell you that you are unpopular. God speaks a better Word over you and says, “In me, you are favored.”

Does it ever just blow your mind that in our sinful and broken state, while wandering far from God, God pursued us with His love? While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We weren’t able to clean up our act first. No, in our depravity, God invites us in. And He doesn’t stop at just inviting us in. He seats us at the place of honor. Favor. He showers us with His kindness and lavishes His love on us. Favor. He has given us wisdom and understanding when the world is starved for it. Favor. In Christ, we have been given all that we need and an abundance more. Favor. This is our heritage. This is our identity. In Christ, we are not who we once were. In Christ, we are not what has been done to us. In Christ, we are not the mistakes of our past. In Christ, we are favored. Even though we don’t deserve it. Even though we haven’t earned it. Even though we can’t afford it. It has been afforded to us. Live in it. Walk in it. Be who you are in Christ.

Chosen.

Adopted.

Forgiven.

Favored.