Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
Jesus, I belong to you.
I lift up my heart to you.
I set my mind on you.
I fix my eyes on you.
I offer my body to you as a living sacrifice.
Jesus, we belong to you.
Praying in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.
Acts 27:39–44
When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.
The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.
CONSIDER THIS
As we wrap up this shipwreck story, a powerful word comes to my mind. I think all Paul has been through can be wrapped up into one powerful Bible word.
The word is favor. I see Psalm 5:12 powerfully at work in Paul’s life: “For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”
Isn’t that exactly what the text describes today? The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan.
Over and over and over again, the Holy Spirit continually gave Paul favor. Favor does not mean a free pass or immunity from hardships, suffering, and trials. Favor means the strong superintending presence of the Lord in the midst of them. Think back through the story of Scripture and behold all the places where the favor of the Lord rises up. God favored Noah in the calling to build an ark. God favored Abraham and Sarah in their old age with the promise of a child. God favored Moses to be saved from genocide, to grow up in Pharaoh’s palace, and to later lead God’s people to freedom. On we could go to Deborah and Daniel and David and Hannah.
Favor looks like Stephen’s vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God in the midst of his execution. Favor opens prison doors. Favor is being lowered in a basket over the city wall by cover of darkness. Favor comes in the form of a Roman centurion. The reason Paul, the prisoner, emerged as the de facto leader of the ship? God favored him.
Then there’s the favor of all favor. The angel Gabriel put it best in the way he greeted the young teenager, Mary, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28).
Favor is like money in the kingdom of God. When Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” he was talking about favor. God shows his favor to all who seek his kingdom. The question is: Will we have the eyes to perceive it?
I commend this practice to you. Write out Psalm 5:12 on a card and put it where you will see it every day.
For you bless (___________), the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Just after the word “bless,” insert the names of your children or grandchildren or your parents or friends or pastor (or me!), or anyone you know who is seeking to do the will of God. And don’t forget to pray it for yourself.
Can you see what is written on your shield? That’s the only problem with a shield, isn’t it? We are standing behind it. We can’t see it from the front side. I want you to take a minute today as you sit in your war room (a.k.a. prayer closet) and look at the front side of your shield of faith. It is emblazoned in fiery letters—five of them to be precise: F-A-V-O-R.
Believe it, Christian. You are covered with the favor of Jesus as with a shield. Now go walk in it.
THE PRAYER OF TRANSFORMATION
Lord Jesus, I am your witness. I long to be like you.
I receive your righteousness and release my sinfulness.
I receive your wholeness and release my brokenness.
I receive your fullness and release my emptiness.
I receive your peace and release my anxiety.
I receive your joy and release my despair.
I receive your healing and release my sickness.
I receive your love and release my selfishness.
Come, Holy Spirit, transform my heart, mind, soul, and strength so that my consecration becomes your demonstration; that our lives become your sanctuary. For the glory of God our Father, amen.
THE JOURNAL PROMPTS
Can you remember a time in your life when you were favored by God? Tell that story today.
You don’t want to miss our August 26, Word and Spirit journaling workshop! Register here.
And speaking of journals, our Exodus Wake-Up Call series begins September 2. Order Exodus: A Wake-Up Call Journal here and use the code SOWEXODUS to save 50% on orders of two or more.
WHAT IS THIS?Wake-Up Call is a daily encouragement to shake off the slumber of our busy lives and turn our eyes toward Jesus. Each morning our community gathers around a Scripture, a reflection, a prayer, and a few short questions, inviting us to reorient our lives around the love of Jesus that transforms our hearts, homes, churches, and cities.
Comments and Discussion
2 Responses
O Taste & See the Flavor of God’s Favor
Seek God’s government first!
Let Him replace
Everything in your heart
That wants to take His place.
Keep your think tank
Filled with His righteousness.
Transcend your loneliness
Through His inner presence.
Savor the flavor of Christ’s favor.
Let your heart soar
On the wind of His Spirit.
When I reflect back on my life, and recall the several close calls that I’ve had with death with death, I can clearly see God’s favor in that I’m still alive and in good health relative to my age. I know that I’ve been blessed due to no merit of my own. I tend to think that Paul was spared, along with the other folks on that ship due to a promise that God had made to Paul a few verse’s back: For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me and said, ‘ Don’t be afraid Paul, it is necessary for you to appear before Caesar. And indeed, God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’ (Acts 27:23-24) l believe that we all, like Ester, are here “for such a time as this”.
2 Responses
O Taste & See the Flavor of God’s Favor
Seek God’s government first!
Let Him replace
Everything in your heart
That wants to take His place.
Keep your think tank
Filled with His righteousness.
Transcend your loneliness
Through His inner presence.
Savor the flavor of Christ’s favor.
Let your heart soar
On the wind of His Spirit.
When I reflect back on my life, and recall the several close calls that I’ve had with death with death, I can clearly see God’s favor in that I’m still alive and in good health relative to my age. I know that I’ve been blessed due to no merit of my own. I tend to think that Paul was spared, along with the other folks on that ship due to a promise that God had made to Paul a few verse’s back: For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me and said, ‘ Don’t be afraid Paul, it is necessary for you to appear before Caesar. And indeed, God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’ (Acts 27:23-24) l believe that we all, like Ester, are here “for such a time as this”.