#7 A Father's Favor

 

A Father’s favour

 

I’ve had the privilege of growing up with a father’s favour. 

 A photo comes to mind of all 4 kids tumbled around him with so much laughter.  His heart (and my mom’s) always had space for more (friends as well as kids from the children’s home) and he was the center and life of the joyful chaos as friends visited in bundles.  He was truly present!  Present in our activities, our special moments, our disappointments and heartache as well as in the mundane everyday life.  He was fair, brave, caring and special.  He gave us life – nurturing, encouraging, playing, guiding, correcting and making music and laughter.  In a way he laid down his life for us, working despite his own brokenness and being medically “unfit”.  It was my deepest pain when he died at age 51.  But what a legacy he left behind – showing me the Father-heart of God!  He was my 1^st and greatest role-model of a father’s favour.  He loved us the same, always.  He loved us despite our choices and not because of our performances.  I knew what is was to be loved, accepted and to belong. 

How much more is the favour of our Heavenly Father!! 

Eph 2:4-8

But God – so rich is He in His mercy, that in order to satisfy the great, wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, He made us alive - He HAD to save us and He gave us new life.  He gave us the very life of Christ and it is by grace (His favour and mercy which you don’t deserve) that you are saved. He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (gave us joint seating with Him).  He did this that He might clearly demonstrate the immeasurable riches of His grace in His kindness and goodness of heart toward us.  For it is by grace (unmerited favour) that you are saved through faith;  it came not through your own striving, but it is a gift of God. 

How do we steward this grace?

Grace is love in action! 

Love leads to grace. If I love people as I say I do (and are commanded to do), then to satisfy that love, I will have grace. In sharing that grace, I show acceptance.  We are wired for love and belonging and grace will give that to someone - Accepting them just as they are just as we are accepted by God just as we are.

Grace came despite sin = unmerited!  It cannot be earned. 

BUT God….  No matter who we are or were in the past; no matter where we’ve been – BUT God so loved us, He had to give us life. 

I can’t choose who I give grace to and if they are deserving of it or not; it is undeserved by nature.

Grace brings life!

He made us alive - Are my words and actions bringing others to life?  Do I have a language of life when I interact with my family, friends, strangers? Grace brings life. 

 

Eph 2:8

For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgement), through your faith.  And this is not of yourselves, but it is a gift of God.

Grace is non-judgemental

People should not be judged as person – we can’t judge someone’s heart, only behaviour.  Love the person, even though you can’t condone the actions.  Have a generous assumptions – assume good intent, make sure of the facts, before you judge and jump to conclusions about their intent; try to understand why there are acting the way they do.  We are so eager to evaluate.

Grace requires faith. 

The grace is free, it’s a gift available to all, but a person also needs faith in Jesus, ie accept the gift of grace and salvation in order to be saved. We have to reach out and take the gift, but not everyone chooses to do so. 

It may be like that for me as well.  If I want to journey with someone, I choose to do it by love and grace, but I also need to be trusted (trust is earned in our case) before they will really allow me into their hearts and lives.  Some will choose not to reach out for the gift of grace (friendship, mentoring, acceptance, etc) and that is okay.  I think the key is not to be offended and love them anyway (because it's honouring God). 

In the book “The greatest salesman in the world” by Og Mandino, it is written beautifully when he says “I will greet this day with love in my heart.  I will love all manner of men, for each has qualities to be admired even though it may still be hidden.”

But what to do when the loving is really difficult?  When the hurt and trauma is so deep, that grace seems almost impossible?  Hebr 4:16 says that we can come boldly unto the throne of Grace where we can find His grace to help in a time of need (an appropriate blessing for who you need it, when you need it). That grace is found in intimate relationship with God; it is found in our Father's favour. Have faith that He will give you the grace you need.  [If you don't have grace for a certain person or situation yet, wait upon God, stay in His presence regarding it until you receive the grace you need so you don't rely on your own strength and understanding]. Does that make sense?  

The questions I ask myself constantly:

Is my grace really free, is it non-judgemental? Am I bringing life into my world and relationships? Am I stewarding well? 

Am I stewarding my Father’s favour?  Am I honouring the legacy my father left me?

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