God's Favor is Two-Fold

 

I have heard preachers say for years that we can't earn God's favor and that His love is unconditional. Something struck me on my drive home from church last night as I listened to a Christian music cd. When it comes to salvation the above is true. However, to please Him and to receive His blessings; we ABSOLUTELY earn, often times. 

Earthly parents give and withhold blessings and gifts and favors to their children based on their behavior. So, why wouldn't God, the ultimate Father? Besides, over and over in scripture we are told that He does so!

In no particular order...

Psalm 84:11 - For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.  (from them that walk uprightly...those that do right!)

1 John 3:22 - And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Jeremiah 7:23 - But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

1 Peter 3:9 - Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. (don't retaliate so you can receive a blessing)

Psalm 3:3-4 - Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Hebrews 13:16 - But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 

Proverbs 16:7 - When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Hebrews 11:5 - By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 

Ephesians 6:2 - Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

Colossians 3:20 - Children obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 

Exodus 20:12 - Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Psalm 37:4 - Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Proverbs 11:20 - They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

Hebrews 12:28-29 - Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

For our God is a consuming fire. (serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear...not any old way we choose!)

Ephesians 5:1-11 - Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Proverbs 3:11-12 - My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 

Revelation 3:19 - As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

So God's favor is indeed two-fold! We cannot do anything to earn salvation. It's free! Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Grace is unmerited favor....getting something we absolutely do not deserve. But God sent Jesus to pay for our sins. We cannot do good deeds, go to church, read our bibles or give money to earn our salvation. We just have to accept the gift God gave. We have to trust what Jesus did on the cross and ONLY that.

However, we CAN earn His favor, His pleasure, His delight, His blessings or His chastisement by our conduct. Personally, I want to please Him. I want to avoid chastisement as much as possible. Of course I understand that not all trials that happen are due to sin and sometimes it's just because God is allowing them to mold, shape and strengthen us but I desire to please Him and walk in His ways as much as I can muster. Don't you? Just some thoughts to consider.