To Continue in God’s Favor – Measure Yourself!

It is human nature to observe others and measure them. We decide if they look right, if they are acting right, and if we are going to like them. Now the measuring rod gets smaller if we hold them in a level of esteem – if they are famous, or a celebrity, or maybe they have achieved something that we admire. But the measuring rod gets longer for those who come into our disfavor, for whatever reason. It is particularly interesting that we often judge those the harshest who have characteristics similar to ours!

Christians soon learn when they come into the church world what brings favor in that world! Depending on the church, that “favor” might vary from how you dress, to how you speak Christianese; how disciplined you are to how much liberty you walk in; few determine favor by measuring themselves by the book – we measure ourselves by ourselves! There are even those who set themselves up to be a standard (often they are preachers!) and say that if you live like me you will have God’s favor!

The Apostle Paul tuned into this tendency of the brethren and he addressed it by saying:

“Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely.” 2 Corinthians 10:12 (AMP)

Sometimes we as Christians go beyond even what the church requires to trying to tap into what we think God requires for issuing out His favor and we determine to develop a lifestyle that we think will gain us favor. We really don’t have to look far into the word to see what God says will give us His favor and I guarantee you if you feel as if you are not walking in His favor and can’t feel the presence of God we need to check two things:

First we need to check our love life:

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: “Psalm 66:18

and second we need to check how high we have become in our own eyes:

“You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years.: In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for
“God opposes the proud
but favors the humble.” Galatians 4:10 (NLT)

One of the things I learned early (and I learned it the hard way) was when my barometer of judgement started working – I was about to go through a trial – and second, when my prayers weren’t being answered while I was in a trial – it was because I had not really giving God the right to work things out for me – I still had my plan I wanted Him to bless.

There is a rest for the people of God where favor abounds but we have to labor to enter into that rest:

“For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4: 10-12 (KJV)

Jesus is a personal Savior and He will walk with us individually through the journey we have to walk – but He is “meek and lowly” and He “loves unconditionally” – if we are going to walk with Him, we have to do the same thing!

God Bless You This Day,
Maria

• plavix and bruising