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| Eighty and Fabulous Gift Set |
We arrived at the restaurant and had parked when here she
comes, right up behind us with a big grin on her face. In a flash, Tris was on our heels with a
stretched-out arm shouting, “I got the door.”
Entering the dining area the hostess instructed us to sit
where we liked. Plunking her pocketbook
on the floor she pulled out her chair and started in on a story. Oh no … it was not long before we were
laughing anticipating the outcome of her “swallowed tooth” story! We were not disappointed.
During our conversation, she was excited over showing off the
new pink coffee mug gift set to her senior girlfriend group – the “magnificent
seven,” and that she was going to bring it next time they met for dinner. Her
response sent us over the moon knowing it was something she liked.
“I’m glad you liked our gift and these are for you.”
I said handing her a yellow bouquet of flowers and dripping water all over the
table from the carry sack in which they were contained. I quickly began sopping up the water with napkins
when she took the flowers and leaned them up against her purse on the floor.
Pushing a small chocolate cream cake next to her plate I said,
“This is for you as well.” Putting down
her fork she smiled and picked up the dessert. “Ooooh, let’s just eat this!” She read my mind!
As we sat at the table I explained to our server that we
were celebrating my friend’s birthday and shared her age. Looking at her the lady acted surprised and
could not believe it. I felt the same
and thought God surely renewed her youth just like it says in His word.
Abounding in Benefits
There are many “benefits” as the Bible calls it, described for
those who accept and follow Christ as their Savior according to Psalm 103. God blesses the soul, forgives sins, heals diseases,
supplies good things, and even renews our bodies to name a few of those salvation
benefits.
However, there are more promises from God that go far beyond
the few mentioned in this passage and one is His favor. In verse 4 of that same chapter, it states
how God gives lovingkindness and mercy.
“Who redeems your life from destruction (saves you from
going to hell), Who crowns (adorns, encircles) you with lovingkindness and
tender mercies.”
The word “mercies” from the original Hebrew translation of
this verse means that God has compassion for us from the beginning; we are
cherished with great love from before we are born. Here God implies that He cherishes, takes
pity on, and has tender mercy for the fetus acknowledging it is a living being
He loves.
8) “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger,
and plenteous in mercy (great in mercy).
In verse eight “merciful” means God is compassionate and
full of mercy. Moving down in the blessing list of benefits we see the word
mercy again several times, only it does not mean the same as in the previous
verses.
Pick up with the last part of verse 8:
" ... and plenteous in mercy (great in mercy).
11) For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is
His mercy toward them that fear (revere) Him.
12) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He
removed our transgressions (confessed sins) from us.
17) … but the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting
to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s
children;
18) To such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember
His commandments to do them."
If we look at verses 8b (the term mercy), 11 and 17, the same word means a great deal more than God’s great compassion. It includes: kindness, goodness, mercy, beauty and yes – favor referring to the person in reference.
Not only does God give favor, He abounds in it! These things cannot be bought, worked for, or
earned, but are given freely from the Lord because of His mercy (compassion).
If you are born again God's favor is automatically on
your life and available the moment you asked Jesus into your life and heart. Favor is a gift from God if you are a
believer, but many Christians do not know or realize it. Even more they do not
know how to walk in God's favor or recognize it in their daily lives.
Scriptures teach in Psalm 3:8 that the blessing of the Lord
is on His people. We can ask for favor on certain situations or increase
of favor, but the initial blessing of favor (compassionate mercy) we do not
need to ask for because it is already on you as a child of God’s.
Every person who trusts Jesus as their Savior under the New
Testament covenant, becomes an heir to the promises God made to Abraham.
We are identified as "seed" and “joint heirs with Jesus,” therefore
qualifying us as heirs to the covenant promise made to Abraham in the Old
Testament.
Upon salvation every individual receives the blessing of God
that includes His favor. They go together and cannot be separated.
Unfortunately, most Christians only believe in salvation
that grants them a place in Heaven one day; they never walk in God's blessing
or favor even though it is available to every child of God. It cannot be
earned, bought, or worked for … it is a gift!
It was one year ago since we first met sweet Tris at a water
dispenser in Walmart, and a few weeks later we were honored to celebrate her 79th
birthday at her home. After a wonderful
time of fellowship, she shared her love for Jesus and we ended the afternoon in
a time of prayer and blessings.
I am not sure how much she knows about God’s favor or
understands the depth of it, but pray she will experience this gift from the
Lord in ways more than she could ever ask or think. My prayer is the same for you!
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians
3:20 NKJV)
*For those who trust in Jesus Christ, God gives the promise of life here but also the gift of eternal life (in Heaven; a Kingdom that cannot be shaken) as an inheritance of being His child. If you would like to have this gift also, click here to learn more.
