Living in God’s Favor

John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.

In Psalms 103:1-5 The psalmist expresses gratitude to God. He speaks to his own soul to remind himself God has forgiven our sins, healed our diseases, delivered us from destruction, and crowned our life with tender mercies and loving-kindness. God gives us words of life to fill our mouths with good things so that our youth is renewed.
Humans are blessed to have the opportunity to join their hearts with God’s heart. Humans can communicate with God, learn from him, and understand the human condition from his perspective. What God desires in humans is a relationship. Fellowship with God, the creator, and the self-existing one is possible.

Humans get preoccupied with day-to-day living. Some work to earn a living and all have responsibilities to secure housing, food, and basic needs for living. Too many humans never consider their relationship or nurture fellowship with God.
In the early days of human existence, God would come to the garden in the cool of the evening: He and the human would talk; that was part of their fellowship.
God, found in King David, a man after God’s own heart: he loved on God with psalms, songs and spiritual songs.

God refers to the church as the bride of Christ. (Revelations 19:7-8 and Ephesians 5:22-33) In Romans 1: 7, Paul called them “beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” That attitude is what humans should have toward God and the relationship they can have with God.
In Acts 10:38 we see that Jesus went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. He was anointed to help humans.
Mark 6:4-5 tells us that Jesus could not do mighty works in his own country because they did not believe in him.

25 Humans have everything to do with attracting God’s favor or rejecting it.
The Old Testament book of Job, describes Job as a righteous man. God described Job as perfect and upright, one that feared God and avoided evil. Job had not done evil or brought destruction on his family. So, what happened? Job 1:8 says the devil threw it in God’s face that God had a hedge of protection about Job, around his house, and about all that he had on every side. The Devil accused God of blessing the work of Job’s hands, and causing his substance to increase in the land. The accuser went on to suggest if God removed the protection and allowed him to put Job to the test, Job would curse him and die.

Meanwhile Job 1:5 says that Job continually offered sacrifices in case his sons sinned or cursed God. Job was acting out of fear when he was sacrificing. Why was the sons not offering their own sacrifices? It is possible that the humans surrounding Job were not righteous humans. It is possible that the only reason, they were not already consumed, was the covenant protection God had placed around Job’s house and belongings.
God removed the hedge from this righteous man and allowed Satan to overtake his house. God told Satan he could not take Job’s life. Job suffered loss. It is recorded in Job 3:25-26, Job speaking, “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. Job insisted he had tried to be diligent to make sure his children would be safe despite what they were doing.

In James 5:11 Job was commended for his patience. There is much we can learn from Job. God had a hedge of protection around Job and his children. God wants to cover all humans in protection, but there are requirements to being included in God’s protection. Job was prosperous: blessed with large herds of stock, and his family was able to have regular parties with celebration and eating. Until tragedy came on Job, there is no evidence that he suffered any physical ailments. So he was in health. He had friends, who were willing to sit in silence with him day and night for seven days.
Do not make the mistake of minimizing his attack. He lost seven sons and three daughters. His workers, were destroyed, his sheep burned, and his camels stolen. Whether it lasted a month or a year, it was devastating.

Job had ten children after his struggle had ended. He left an inheritance to his daughters, not just his sons, so he was wealthy again. He lived 140 years after his trouble to enjoy up to four generations of children. Job 42:17 says Job died, being old and full of days. However long his suffering was, he never lost faith in God or faithfulness to God. He refused the suggestions of his wife and friends to curse God and die. He never gave up. Through suffering, he endured with hope.

26 Things like love, faith, hope, and joy are tangible, changing circumstances, perspectives, and often attitudes.

Today the born again human has the comforter living inside. Job did not have the Spirit of the living God dwelling in him but he loved God and had faith in God. No matter the adversity, he was faithful. Any human who will accept Jesus Christ as Lord will be filled with the Spirit and experience the God kind of love.