Luke 7:16

The helpless had been helped. A miracle had occurred and the people stood amazed. The miraculous always attracts a crowd and draws attention. Jesus had brought back to life this poor widow’s son and awe was apparent. Human nature is drawn to the dramatic. Wisely, those present see this miracle as God looking upon them with favor and mercy.Favor and mercy – who wouldn’t want God to look upon us through those lenses? While His general favor is constantly made manifest to us in countless ways that are often regrettably taken for granted – the air that we breathe, the sun that warms us, the rain that sustains, our health, our freedoms, our ability to reason and move about and love, etc., etc. – His specific favor always draws attention, sort of a wake-up call, if you will, to God’s glory. When He bestows specific favor, He alone receives the glory. What man can cause the sea to part? What man can raise the dead? What man can drive out demons? The answer is a resounding God alone! Favor flows from His mercy and love. What brings about God’s favor? Many of the saints in Scripture were reported to have attained such a commendation – Abel (Genesis 4:4); Noah (Genesis 6:8); Moses (Exodus 34:9); Samuel (1 Samuel 2:26); Mary (Luke 1:28); and of course the Lord Jesus (Luke 2:52) – just to name a few. Lives marked my obedience and devotion to God – this should be a clue for us all! In fact God tells the Israelites in Leviticus (under the heading “Reward for Obedience”) the following:3 "'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land. Lev 26:3-5 (NIV) 9 "'I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. 10 You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. 11 I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high. Lev 26:9-13 (NIV)
A grateful heart coupled with obedience and devotion please God. Wisdom, stated in Proverbs, can be added to that list too (under a chapter entitled “Wisdom’s Call):35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. 36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death." Prov 8:35-36 (NIV)
Jesus, of course, demonstrated God’s ultimate favor towards man. In His job description, if you will, Christ quotes from the prophet Isaiah: 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19 (NIV) He came “proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor” – and what favor indeed! No act of mercy or favor was ever so great. The fullness of the Godhead in bodily form sent to take upon His body all the sins of sinful man so that we could be set free from the bondage of sin that enslaves us having our sight restored and our oppression lifted being able to once again walk with God. “Jesus, Thou hast bought us, not with gold or gem, but with Thine own life blood, for Thy diadem; with Thy blessing filling each who comes to Thee, Thou hast made us willing, Thou hast made us free. By Thy grand redemption, by Thy grace divine, we are on the Lord side- Savior, we are Thine! By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine, we are on the Lord’s side – Savior, we are Thine!” Frances Havergal/Mo Leverett.