Genesis 6:8 reads, “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”
You ask, “What is the favor of God?” It’s God doing for you what you cannot do for yourself. It opens doors of opportunity. It turns opposition into support. It can help you land a promotion, make the list or seal the deal. The Bible says, “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).
Note: just as you can grow in wisdom and stature, you can also grow in favor with God and men. So instead of being content with the level of favor you enjoy, ask God for an increase. You ask, “How do I find favor?” Obedience! It begins by surrendering your life to Christ. “No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). And God’s favor is not limited to the spiritual realm; it extends to the material realm as well.
In Noah’s life, it translated into ingenious inventions. He didn’t just build the first boat and pioneer the shipbuilding industry, he also held a variety of patents. According to Jewish tradition, Noah invented the plow, the scythe, the hoe and a number of other implements used for cultivating the ground.
The favor of God translated into good ideas. It doesn’t matter what you do, God wants to help you do it. He wants to favor your business plan, your manuscript, your lesson plan, your legal brief, your sales pitch, etc. But you’ve got to position yourself for that favor by acting in obedience. If God knows He’ll get the glory, He will bless you beyond your ability and beyond your resources.
© 2017 CE