“For the one who finds WISDOM finds life, and receives favor from the Lord.” (Proverbs 8:35)

 “Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles, and warm woolen mittens,

Brown paper packages tied up with string, These are a few of my favorite things,”

sings Julie Andrews in the famous classic musical, The Sound of Music.

I love Starbucks coffee, banana malts, pizza, and oatmeal cookies. My favorite foods include fried okra, summer squash, NJ sweet corn, warm baked rolls, and grilled BBQ chicken. My favorite times are summer nights, a day at the beach, and watching my grandchildren laugh and play. I love pugs, yellow daisies, purple flowers, clean sheets, Christmas morning, and hearing Mark Lowry sing, “Mary, Did You Know?” My favorite time of day is the quiet morning moments with my Bible and coffee, having time with the Lord, getting to know Him better through His Word and time in prayer.

My favorite season is summer. My favorite holiday…Christmas. I love watching football with my family, singing songs of beautiful praise to the Lord together with a choir of God’s people…hearing my husband passionately preach and teach God’s Word. A walk on the boardwalk, a hike through the woods, a day at Longwood Gardens, spotting a red-headed woodpecker, and watching an eagle soar through the sky. Watching puppies tumble through the grass, babies sleep, and dolphins jumping in the waves. My favorite place in the USA is Florida. I love going to Disneyworld. I love boat-rides. I love outdoor concerts and fireworks on the fourth of July.

My favorite countries…Of course, my homeland, the United States of America…and the land of Israel and every moment I have experienced in God’s “favorite” land – especially the Sea of Galilee. I think it’s my favorite place on earth!

My favorite child…my favorite grandchild…of course, each one is my favorite. I love each one’s uniqueness. I love their voices and their laughter. My favorite thing is to watch them grow and learn and experience life and God. My children and my grandchildren – they are my favorite people on earth.

My favorite books of the Bible – Ephesians, Proverbs, Genesis, Colossians, Psalms, James, the Gospel of John…Job. Seriously! Whatever book I am studying is my “favorite.”

My favorite verses…

Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 – Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

II Corinthians 4:15-18 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

Proverbs 31:30-31 – Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Isaiah 26:3 – You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

“These are a few of my favorite things…”

Lately, we have seen signs posted in yards all over Medford, “I Love My Church.” I thought about that. Do we love our church? Not the building, but the people who are “the church”. Are these our favorite people? The body and bride of Christ, the family of God, the people we will spend forever with.  These are our kind of people. These people should be a priority in our lives. Church should be one of our favorite places to be – with the people of God. If it is true that we love our church, then our actions will reveal our love. Jesus said it this way, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

What are some of your favorites?

Please comment below and share some of your favorite Scripture verses and books of the Bible.

Have you ever thought about being one of God’s “Favorites”?

Of course, Jesus, is God’s ultimate favorite. It is difficult to understand Luke 2:52, where Luke writes that “Jesus increased in wisdom and in favor with God and man.” How could He increase in wisdom? He was the Creator of the heavens and the earth. How could He receive more of God’s favor than He already had? He was God’s “only begotten Son”.  Yet in His humanness, He did grow in wisdom. It is in wisdom, that one finds favor with God. As Jesus began His earthly ministry, He came to be baptized of John in the Jordan River. The Spirit of God descended on Him like a dove. “And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved (One and Only) Son; in Him I am well pleased.’” Jesus was indeed the Only One in whom God could truly be pleased, because, “He (alone) was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) It is only through Jesus’ righteousness and faith in Him, that we can please God. (Romans 3:25-26; Hebrews 11:6) It is never of our own effort or works but only by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9). And this why, throughout Scripture, individuals can be found who were favored by God.

In Genesis, God favored Abel’s offering over Cain’s (Gen.4). Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Gen. 6). God showed favor to Lot, not willing to destroy Sodom until Lot escaped (Gen. 19). Isaac was the child of promise (Gen 21). God chose Jacob over Esau (Gen. 25).

The people of Israel were the “apple of God’s eye.” (Deuteronomy 32) David was also called the apple of God’s eye. (Psalm 17).  Abraham was called “the friend of God.” (James 2:23)

Jerusalem  is God’s favorite place on earth! (Ezekiel 16:1-10) Jesus loved and favored Jerusalem and wept over her. (Matthew 23:36-38) One day He will return and make a “new Jerusalem”, This is where He will rule and reign forever and ever. He will be with His people here and abide forever with them. (Revelation 21:1-3)

Another of God’s favorite people in Scripture was Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. God sent the angel to her, saying, ““Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” (Luke 1:28, 42)

What about Jesus’s dear friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus? Whenever He was near Bethany, He stayed in their home, enjoying sweet times of fellowship with them. They were favored by Jesus, like family to Him. (John 11-12)

Also, Jesus had three special “favored” disciples who He spent significant time with and who were chosen to experience more than the other nine disciples. Peter, James, and John were not loved more, but Jesus revealed more to them that their nine fellow disciples. (Matthew 17) I don’t know why. God’s ways are higher than ours. He knows, and we must trust in Him for things that we do not understand. (Isaiah 55:9)

Did you ever think that Job was one of God’s favorites? He was! He was on the tip of God’s tongue when Satan approached His throne presenting himself to God with the other angels. “Have you considered my servant, Job?” Satan believed that Job only lived righteously because God had protected him from all evil. But God knew that Job was the real deal and held him up to Satan as one who would not betray God’s trust, no matter what happened. (Job 1)

God loves the whole world, so much that He gave Himself a ransom for all. (I Timothy 2:5) He cares for each individual person who ever lived. He has offered salvation to anyone and everyone who comes to Him by faith, trusts in Him,and follows Him. But…did you know that YOU can be one of God’s favorites? Those who love Him and keep His commandments are the ones who get to know God intimately. He promises that He will “love” them and manifest (or show) Himself to them (John 14:20-21).

Please understand that being God’s favorite doesn’t mean life will always be easy, nor will it be painless. Abel was murdered. Noah’s whole world was destroyed, including his relatives and friends and livelihood. Lot’s community was annihilated and is wife turned to a pillar of salt. Abraham had to leave everything and never actually settled in the “Promised Land”. Jacob wrestled with God. Winning meant he walked with a limp for the rest of his life. David had to run for his life from King Saul and from his son, Absalom, who stole his kingdom. Israel was overthrown by her enemies and Jerusalem was destroyed by Rome. Lazarus died and was raised again by the Lord Jesus, but then the Jews tried to kill him. Peter and James were martyred. John was exiled. Mary grieved the death of her son, watching Him be crucified by those who hated Him. And then, there is Job. He lost everything. The ultimate evidence that God’s favored people are not excluded from suffering is the example of Jesus Himself, who was hated, tortured, and crucified, even as the Beloved One of His Father.

Jesus said, ““If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” (Luke 9:23-25) Becoming one of God’s favored ones does not mean a pain-free life.

But it does mean “a life worth living” (NET Bible, p.1084, tn5) as is promised in Proverbs 3:1-4. When we remember God’s teaching and obey His commandments, we will have “a long and full life,” and added “well-being” in this life. The “teaching” and “commandments” of Proverbs 3 are in regard to WISDOM. The “admonition (is) to be faithful to the LORD. Wisdom is commended as the most valuable possession…essential to creation…and the way to a long and safe life.” (NET Bible, p. 1084, sn1) When we embrace “mercy and truth”, binding them “around our necks”, “writing them on the tablets of our hearts”, we will “find favor and good understanding” not only with God, but with men.  However, we must understand that finding favor and having a life worth living may be different than the world’s idea of a long and happy life. In Him, we have purpose and fulfillment, an abundant life. And ultimately, we have eternal life. Whether this temporal life is short or long, we have eternal life, and “a life worth living”. It isn’t about riches or fame or personal satisfaction, but it is about storing up treasure in heaven and receiving good gifts from the Father. “For the one who finds WISDOM finds life, and receives favor from the Lord.” (Proverbs 8:35)

Don’t get me wrong, I want to find favor with people. We all want to be loved and affirmed. However, it far more valuable to me to be in favor with God. Remember the parable about “pearl of great price”? (Matthew 13:45-46) The man sold all that he had to acquire that priceless pearl. Having God’s favor on our lives is worth more than all the world has to offer. His favor is worth more than the praise of men and is better than life itself.

I do not want my Lord to be ashamed of me.(Mark 8:38, Romans 1:16) I passionately desire to experience more of His love for me as He reveals more and more of His character – more of Who He is. It’s not a matter of His loving me more as I do more for Him, for He can’t love me any more than He already does. It is a matter of intimacy with Him, knowing Him more and daily experiencing sweet communion and fellowship with Him. This is what I long for most of all: That He reveal Himself to me and express His love more fully each day. This is only possible when He is my highest prize, my “favorite” above all else. Experiencing the revelation of Himself is not possible unless and until I let go of my “favorites” and let Him alone be my “favorite” only pursuit. (Philippians 3:10)

I love the passage in Psalm 3 when David cries out to the Lord because of his enemies. David has no other rescuer. He has no other relationship with anyone who can rescue him. He cries to the only One who is able to save Him,

“Lord, how numerous are my enemies! Many attack me. Many say about me, ‘God will not deliver him.’ (Selah) But you, Lord, are a shield that protects me; you are my glory and the one who restores me…I rested and slept. I awoke, for the Lord protects me…Rise up, Lord! Deliver me, my God…The Lord delivers; You show favor to your people.” (Psalm 3:1-8)

 

I want to be known as one of His people. I want Him to be my shield, my glory, my restorer, my protector, my deliverer. I want His favor on my life. Do you?