An important insight to remember about the favor of God: Favor has a lot more to do with purpose than it does pleasure! Jesus had the favor of God. He was nailed to a cross for our sins where we could be saved. Luke 2:52 (NKJV) “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Daniel had the favor of God. Daniel 6:22-24 (NRSV) “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me because I was found blameless (found favor) before him; and before you, O king, I have done no wrong. Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him because he had trusted in his God. The king gave a command, and those who had accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.” Daniel 6:26 (TLB)
“I decree that everyone shall tremble and fear before the God of Daniel in every part of my kingdom. For his, God is the living, unchanging God whose kingdom shall never be destroyed and whose power shall never end.” Daniel was thrown into a lion’s den so that his God, the true and living God, would be made known to all the kingdoms.
The favor was not for Daniel’s or Jesus’ pleasure but for God’s purpose. Joseph had favor with God. He was sold into slavery by his brothers, lied about, and put into jail, but then promoted to the most powerful man in the kingdom, if not the known world. Joseph’s favor was not always pleasurable, but God’s purpose was to use him greatly and mightily. Genesis 50:20 (NKJV) “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
Today’s Challenge:
Have you missed God’s favor in your life because you missed the purpose? Were you looking more for pleasure than purpose? Would you look back at some of the more unpleasant times in your life and see if God was trying to prepare you for a purpose? God gives everyone favor and purpose. Do you know yours?