Having a relationship with God is a gift that changes our lives both now and in the future. One day, everyone will enter eternity, and only through faith in Jesus as our Savior can we go to heaven. Paul gives insight into this gift. Ephesians 2: 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.[1]
We live in a busy world, and it’s easy to get distracted from the most critical part of life: faith. Perhaps the Lord is prompting you today to consider where you will be after death. Sometimes, the tug on our hearts starts with life’s overwhelming circumstances. At other times, the tugging on our heart begins as a small child, as the Spirit works within us. Luke chapter one introduces Mary as the mother of Jesus. Her relationship with God began in childhood and continued into young adulthood. As a teenager, she met the angel Gabriel, sent by God. Luke 1:28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” [2]
Living a Life that brings God’s Favor
Would you like to live a life that brings God’s favor? I think we all would, but what would that entail? First, living a life that brings God’s favor starts with faith. Hebrews 11: 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. [3]
Favor conveys grace, mercy, an undeserved blessing, and the sense of a gift of kindness and goodwill given to a person or persons.[4] When I desire to grow in faith and seek the Lord in worship and prayer, my heart begins to change. If your heart desires to follow the Lord on the narrow path, you start to live a life that attracts God’s favor because His favor comes from wanting to please Him above all else.
Mary Wanted to Please God
When Gabriel told Mary she’d have a child by the Holy Spirit, she accepted it. In her culture, having a child out of wedlock would’ve brought shame. Immediately, Mary chooses to please God rather than make excuses about the difficulty. Luke 1: 38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. [5]
There are times when we may not understand what God is doing in our lives or where He is leading us. Perhaps you have experienced this. It is with faith, not always understanding, that we follow the Lord’s guidance. Where is the Lord leading you today? With God’s strength, we can take steps of faith and, like Mary, step into the unknown, trusting the Lord. Having a relationship with God is a gift. To find out more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gift-of-relationships
[1-3,5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.