Nougat 3

What difference would it make in our lives if we were to be described as ‘favoured’ by God? Would it result in a shift in our outlook, a shift in our attitude, or have no impact at all. Please consider today’s Holy Nougat

“And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:28‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

Can you just see Mary, fully pregnant and ready to deliver, telling the innkeepers at the various places she visited with Joseph that they needed to provide a good room because she found favor with God? I suspect that the innkeepers would not have made a concession for her on those grounds. Sometimes, earning God’s favor equals being in disfavor with others. (For clarification see James 4).

Favor with God involves keeping the Commandments; particularly the Love Commandments; for truly the others derive from them. Interestingly, we find that Jesus’ view of the ‘Big Ten’ are not for us to become enslaved by the Commandments. In Matthew 5:17-18 He notes that He, Jesus, is the Fulfillment of the Law. But Jesus is intentional in emphasizing that the Love of God MUST be our first priority. So much so that we love God with our WHOLE self – heart (emotions), soul (spirit), and mind (reasoning). Jesus follows this with a slight shift, by inserting that the second greatest commandment is the love of neighbor. And we know from the parable of the Good Samaritan (see Luke 10:25-37), that our neighbor isn’t always living immediately beside us. It’s worth noting that in John 14 when Jesus tells the disciples to keep His (i.e. Jesus’) commandments; He had recently given them a New Commandment – to love each other (see John 13:34).

When all is said and done; even with the caveat to Love God, Self and Others; I prefer to secure God’s favor, regardless of the cost. For although God’s favor doesn’t equal absence of troubles; it does mean God’s presence is with us even in trouble. It definitely does not make us sinless; but it indicates that we are striving to sin less. It may not make us preachers in the literal sense of the word; but it does mean that our lifestyles reflect our commitment to God; and that God’s will (i.e. Jesus’ Commandments) is our priority.

Would we qualify as finding favor with God today?

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May all we seek be found in Christ