Grace and favour – 14th November 2006

Praise Him for his grace and favour

 

To our fathers in distress

Praise Him still the same for ever

Slow to chide and swift to bless

These familiar words from the hymn Praise my soul the King of heaven combine the ideas of grace, favour and blessing.

Time and time again, the word grace is the word which the New Testament writers use to speak of a love that we cannot earn, a love that we can never deserve. This is the Greek word CHARIS from which we get the words charity and charisma. It is also the root of the Greek word charismata which is translated as gifts, sometimes spiritual gifts. It is the love that is freely given by a generous, giving God who is in His very nature love.

It is also translated favour. And this is a rich biblical word, closely related to the word blessing. Isaiah and other prophets spoke of the year of God’s favour.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favour… Isaiah 61:1-2

So behind this word grace is the rich idea of God looking down upon us with favour. Perhaps right now we could imagine God looking down like a proud parent, smiling on us, full of love and compassion for us, wanting us to be successful and fulfilled. He is literally, waiting to bless us.

The Psalmist expressed this in a prayer.

May the favour of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us — yes, establish the work of our hands. Ps 90:17

Why not make this your prayer today? It is a prayer for our hearts and our hands. Pray that you will know the grace and favour of God in your heart. And pray for God to bless the work of your hands as you work in the knowledge of His amazing love for you.