Page 87 - The Prosperous Way _ (APRIL 2024 v3)

FINDING FAVOUR

The Scriptures teach us that, in particular, walking in righteousness is
pleasing to God.

 For thou, oh Lord will bless the righteous , with favour wilt thou
encompass him as with a shield. (Psalm 5:12; KJV)

 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But
the prayer of the upright is His delight . (Proverbs 15:8)

 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously,
and he will give you everything you need. (Matthew 6:33; NLT)

Furthermore, in the story of Job, God says this to Satan in that great
debate concerning Job’s righteousness: “Have you considered my
servant Job? There is no-one on earth like him, he is blameless and
upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” To this, Satan replies:
“Does Job fear God for nothing, Have you not put a hedge around him
and his household and everything that he has?” God favoured Job, and
placed a hedge of protection around him, because of his righteousness.

GOD’S GRACE

We have not yet touched, however, on the true source of God’s favour
which is this: When we have come to the end of our own efforts, and
when we have fallen short of the mark in our own conduct, and when
we have failed to respond to the urgings of the Spirit, then we fall on
God’s unmerited favour, which is His grace.

At some point in time (in fact, sometimes over and over again), we all
fail to meet the goals and standards that we set for ourselves. The Bible
tells us that a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again
(Proverbs 24:16). In times of trouble or failure, God invites us to come
boldly before His throne of grace in prayer, and there find mercy and
help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). It is in times like these that we
submerge ourselves in the Psalms and, like David, cry out to the Lord for
help. It is He who restores favour to us, who sets our feet upon a rock,
and lifts our head above those who oppose us (Psalm 27). Therefore, in
concluding, we must clearly establish the foundational truth that,
ultimately, we find favour with those around us by God’s own grace.

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