Living in God's favor!

One of the key things I try to communicate on this blog is "here and now" benefits of being a Christian.  For a lot of people Heaven and Hell seem so far down the road that it doesn't seem all that real to some people.  I think it helps to show them what is in it for them in their lives right now if they follow Jesus. 

Or to put it another way, of what practical use is it to follow Jesus?

For me, one of the biggest benefits is living in God's favor.  What that means to me is how God can work even the littlest things out for me in my daily life with so little effort.  Let me give you an example from this past weekend.

I was doing a car project and I was stuck.  I couldn't connect the steering column to the steering knuckle.  I tried for about 45 minutes.  It was around 2:00 AM when I gave up. 

While I was under the car working I remember praying "Hey God, sure could use a little of your favor here if you got a minute.  Now was I disappointed that God didn't grant me that favor right then?  Not at all!  While I had total faith that He would grant me the help I was looking for I also know that it will happen in His time.  In other words God isn't just sitting there waiting to help just me.  He's a busy guy.

It was just really comforting to know that God would come through.  It was two days before I could get back out there and work on the car again.  The day in between God said to me "hey try those new extra long channel locks", and then God moved on.

But there I had it.  God's favor.  The next day I grabbed the channel locks, slide under the car and in less than two minutes I had the thing fixed!  Thank you God!

As heirs with Jesus, it sure is cool living in God's favor.  You should try it some time.  It starts with  inviting Jesus to guide your life.  Just have a conversation with Him.  "Dear Jesus…."

"…created in Christ Jesus for good works."

Saved by grace and rewarded through works.  I have written about this before.  Our salvation is free to everyone.  Accept Jesus and get into Heaven, guaranteed!  But our reward in Heaven is based on our works.  I have written about that several times and I have provided Scriptural reference.  I want to focus on a slightly different aspect this time.

Ephesians 2:8-10(NKJV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 

not of works, lest anyone should boast. 

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The part in yellow we have heard many times.  The part in green seems to be overlooked.  It says we were created in Christ for a specific purpose doesn't it?  For good works.  So when we are doing good works in the name of Christ we are fulfilling God's purpose for our lives aren't we?

So doesn't it make sense that the more good works we do helping Jesus, the more we will be rewarded?  I offer to you the Parable of the Talents as backup proof.  The three people were rewarded in direct proportion to how they used the talents God gave them.  The one who used them the lest was rewarded the least. 

See the connection?  :)

A great example of what I was talking about!

Here is a great example of what I am talking about in reference to people who say Christians and  Muslims worship the same God.

Ephesians 1:20-21(NKJV)

which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 

far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

They would never agree with this statement passage.  They would reject it completely because they don't believe in the divinity of Jesus and they would certainly never agree that Jesus is above every other name because to do so would put Jesus over Muhammed which they would never do.   

So once again how could we both serve the same God when we believe opposite things.  Just illogical!

"…if we do not lose heart!"

Galatians 6:9(NKJV)

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 

Too many people give up too soon.  They lose heart.  There is a book out there called Acres of Diamonds.  It is full of stories of people who gave up just before they "reaped their success". 

As I wrote the other day, God's promises are conditional.  God says we will reap in due season.  What does that mean?  It means we may not get success exactly when we want it.  He uses the analogy of seasons. 

Should we expect  harvest the day after we plant?  Why not?  Because it is not harvest season, it is planting season.  Now there is work to be done without reward as our crop matures during growing season.  Then finally we are rewarded.  When are we rewarded?  In harvest season.  So part of God's promise is that we will be rewarded if we are patient and diligent.

So what about the "if we do not lose heart" part.  What does losing heart indicate?  It indicates a loss of faith doesn't it?  And that is the foundation of God's whole system isn't it?  Remember my favorite Romans verses.  Glory in our tribulations.  Why?  It demonstrates our faith and as the Scripture says our faith leads to hope and hope does not disappoint.

So how do we keep from losing faith, or as this verse says, losing heart?  Stay plugged in to God through reading His Word and through Prayer.  And most importantly ask Jesus to come into your life and lead you as you constantly seek to draw closer to God.  Make sense?

That's an odd thing for Paul to say!

2 Corinthians 11:1-4(NKJV)

Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. 

For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

The Bible is full of passages that tell us not to fear.  I'll bet if I took the time to search I could even find a passage or two that Paul wrote telling us not to fear.  One of my favorites is:

2 Timothy 1:7(NKJV)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

So why is Paul talking about his fears?  It just shows that no matter how well we know Scripture and try to depend on it, as humans we all fail at times.  Even Paul! 

Wow, hadn't noticed this before.

As you know I have written several times about the fact that Christians and Muslims do not serve the same God.  There are many people out there that say we do and that is why we should all get along.

Well as I have written before, that can't be.  Once of the things required of Christians to serve God is that they believe in the divinity of Jesus.  Muslims say that while Jesus was a prophet, they reject Him as God. 

Well I just ran across a passage in Galatians that seems to back me up.

Galatians 4:28-31(NKJV)

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 

But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 

Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”  

So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

Who are the bondwoman and her son? 

Galatians 4:22-26(NKJV)

For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 

But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 

which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—

for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—

but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 

Hagar who bore Ishmael which is the line that led to the beginning of Islam.   So while both Christians and Muslims were made by the same God, as was everyone else, we don't SERVE the same God.  As you can see above, God makes a very clear distinction in telling us that Hagar and her son are not heirs with Christ.  In other words we don't worship the same God.  Make sense?  

(And just to be clear I am not advocating persecuting Muslims or anything like that.  I am just pointing out that Scripture backs up my contention that we don't all serve the same God)

God's promises have always been conditional.

I'm sure I have written on this before.  I think we sometimes lose sight of this.  We expect God's promises to be automatic.  There is an old hymn called Standing on the Promises of God.  But the pattern in this Scripture is an example of what I have seen elsewhere. 

Deuteronomy 28:9(NKJV)

“The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. 

Notice the if?  God promises to do this or that IF we do such and such.  In this case if we keep the commandments. (this is Old Testament).  Now mind you I am not complaining or saying this is wrong or anything.  I have no problem with it.  I just think a lot of people miss this. 

Just another reason though why we should be continually be building our relationship with God.  If we are always doing that I believe the conditional part will take care of itself.

Why do some of God's workers take such smug satisfaction in struggling and being poor?

The title is the question.  I was talking to a college student recently who was changing her major from social work to business.  I jokingly said something like "Oh, decided you didn't want to be poor huh?". 

She was offended.  Her goal was to be a missionary and she was extremely proud (and smug) about disavowing money.  She was proud of the fact that she had nothing and that she had no interest in money.  She just wanted to "help people". 

It's as if she didn't know Scripture at all.  Here is what God says He will provide in support of our good works on His behalf.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8(NKJV)

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 

Now how much more effective do you think she would be at helping people if she had all of the resources she needed to carry out her tasks?  And if she doesn't know Scripture well enough to claim God's promises, do you think God will force them on her?  Scripture seems to indicate the answer is no on that question. 

That is why it is so important to know Scripture.  We have to know what the promises of God are before we can claim them.  The only way to know what those promises are is to build a relationship with God though prayer and study of His Word. 

And of course the very first step in knowing God's promises is knowing God's son Jesus.  Have you taken the time to get to know Jesus yet?  Just spend a little time talking to Him.  "Dear Jesus…."

The Perspective of Maps

I just started the book of Galatians (again).  A question popped into my head.  (Thanks God for sending the question!).  Where is Galatia? 

So I did a quick search for Biblical maps of the Mediterranean.  Here is an example of what I found.  I especially like this one because I am reading Paul's letters and the map show Paul's 3 missionary journeys. 

What I had never realized before is that Paul's journeys repeatedly took him through what today is Turkey.  In fact Galatia went right through the middle of Turkey.

So what you might ask?  The reason I find it interesting is that the current head of Turkey is doing his best to turn Turkey from a somewhat secular country into a Muslim dominated country to usher in the 12th Mahdi. 

I didn't realize that Turkey's Christian heritage predated any Muslim influence by at least 600 years.  I never would have understood that without looking at a map!

So how do we identify the false prophets?

In these verses Paul warns us of false prophets.  Paul says that even Satan himself can transform into an angel of light. 

2 Corinthians 11:12-15(NKJV)

But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 

And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

So how do we well true prophets from false prophets?  By studying and knowing Scripture.  The answer is in there.  One of the easiest tests is to discern whether they embrace or deny the divinity of Jesus Christ.  If they deny the divinity of Jesus then they cannot be a prophet of God.

Paul's Inferiority Complex

Have you ever noticed that Paul seems to have an inferiority complex in regards to the other Apostles?  I wonder why that is?  Could that be the "thorn in his side" that He writes about in 2nd Corinthians? 

2 Corinthians 12:11(NKJV)

I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing. 

There are many references like this in Paul's writings.  I just find it odd.  I wonder if it has to do with the fact that he is the only Apostle that wasn't there with Jesus during His ministry?  Maybe he feels guilt for all of the Christians he had put to death and he feels a need to prove himself and be accepted?  Who knows? 

I guess it is just a great example that we all have weaknesses, even when we are devoted to Jesus.  Our lives don't become perfect when we accept Jesus, they just become much more fulfilling and peaceful (in a spiritual sense).  If you haven't done so already, give Jesus an initiation into your life and see what I mean!

An observation on the "Saintly Poor"

The poor shall inherit the earth.  Isn't that what Scripture says?  The meek also get thrown in there as well.

As I have written before, I think that idea is often misinterpreted.  A lot of people use that verse to excuse all manner of indiscretion of the poor because after all God must really favor them if they are going to inherit the earth right?  A lot of people also use that as an excuse for their own poverty.  They wear their disdain of wealth as a badge of honor.  

Here is my observation.

How come none of the promises of being a Christian are that we will be poor and meek?  Here is the verse that triggered this observation.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14(NKJV)

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 

Let all that you do be done with love.

This is Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians.  He is telling them stand fast in the faith and be brave and strong. 

What???  Why isn't he admonishing them to be weak and poor if that is indeed the "saintly standard"? 

In Malachi God challenges us to give our tithe.  And what happens if we do?

Malachi 3:8-10(NKJV)

    “Will a man rob God?      Yet you have robbed Me!     But you say,     ‘In what way have we robbed You?’     In tithes and offerings.

    You are cursed with a curse,     For you have robbed Me,     Even this whole nation.

    Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,     That there may be food in My house,     And try Me now in this,”     Says the Lord of hosts,     “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven     And pour out for you such blessing     That there will not be room enough to receive it.

God says if you put Him first with our tithing then God will bless us beyond measure.  Once again, if poor is the "saintly standard" why is God blessing them more and more instead of making them poorer and poorer?  Hmm?

Or how about this one from Jesus Himself?

Matthew 25:24-30(NKJV)

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 

And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 

So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 

So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 

And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Did Jesus hold up the poorest of the three as a shining example?  Why not?  Once again, could it be that people have misinterpreted the poor shall inherit the earth verses? 

Let me wrap up with this one.

3 John 1:2-4(NKJV)

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 

For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Here we have the apostle John praying that believers should prosper in all things even as their soul prospers.  Why would he pray for believers to prosper in all things if the "saintly poor" is the true spiritual objective?  Hmm?

Interesting observation isn't it?  A good subject for further study!

Wow, I never thought of it that way before!

Check this out!

2 Corinthians 10:17-18(NKJV)

But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”  

For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

One of the cool things about living in God's favor is the way things "just sort of magically work out".  What I mean by that is sometimes God actually gets involved and  makes the individual pieces fall into place.  Some would call this coincidence. 

Personally I believe that coincidence is just the word used to explain all of the little blessings that God works in our lives that He does anonymously.  Let me give an example from my life this past week. 

I have been looking to transition to a new field.  I have had lots of offers in my current field but nothing much outside of my field.  Last week I saw an ad that looked like it would be perfect for me.  I clicked on the link and started filling out the online application. 

Part way through the application I started having problems.  The ad had the name of the person in charge of hiring so I called her and told her about the problem I was having.  She said it was strange because they had had no other reports of problems.  She then gave me her direct email address and asked that I send my resume directly to her.

I did so and she called back before the end of the day and said she wanted to interview me.  To make a long story short, I was hired for that position today.  Pretty cool!

But the coolest thing for me is how God's favor caused that website to mess up just for me so that I could make contact with the person I needed to make contact with and provided the opportunity to send my resume directly to the person in charge of the hiring process!  Or is it all just a coincidence?  :)

Would you like to experience God's favor in your life like that?  It starts with accepting Jesus and asking Him to guide your life.  From there you just need to build your relationship with God by actively seeking Him day by day.  The more effort you put in to drawing closer to God the more you will experience God's favor.

So why not get started right now by asking Jesus to guide your life?  Just have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…."

Now let me get back to my final point.  The part I had never thought of before.  "But whom the Lord commends". 

Again let me use my current example.  When God works everything out like that He is actually recommending me for that position.  Wow, that's pretty cool!!!

Some of the situations anticipated in the Bible are hilarious!

God has a great sense of humor.  Look at some of the situations that are anticipated in the Bible.  LOL!

Deuteronomy 25:11-12(NKJV)

“If two men fight together, and the wife of one draws near to rescue her husband from the hand of the one attacking him, and puts out her hand and seizes him by the genitals, 

then you shall cut off her hand; your eye shall not pity her.

God anticipated that a woman might grab another guy by the balls to save her husband?  :)