Who are God’s favourites? (Part 2)

These are the ones I look on with favour: those who are humble and contrite in spirit and who tremble at my word (Isaiah 66:2)

In the first part of this discuss on God’s favourites we established that God’s judgement is always right, so that if He favours someone, it is the only right thing to do. We also saw that there is special favour for those we live to obey and please the Lord. In most cases, when we think of favouritism, we imagine a place of higher status and less responsibility. Paradoxically, God’s favour often comes with added duties and more difficult challenges. Many of those whom God favoured were persecuted and suffered hardship because of the mantle of responsibility God placed upon them. The angel Gabriel greeted Mary with these words: “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). We have no further record as to why Mary was chosen, but the result of God’s favour upon her was that she had to bear great sorrow and difficulty as the mother of the Messiah; and according to Simeon, the “sword” would “pierce her soul” (Luke 2:35). Similarly, Peter, John and the Apostles were specially loved and favoured of the Lord but this did not translate to an easy or flamboyant life for them. However, the grace of God was sufficient for them to excel in all their undertakings and to finish their journeys of life very well. May we also be so supported by Divine favour.

Welcome to the Shout Out service to appreciate and celebrate teachers who are our nation builders.

Pastors Marcus & Norah Chilaka