Proverbs 13:15 ” Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.”

Another translation states, “but the way of the transgressor will not endure, like barren dry soil.” (Amplified Version)  We will never find favor with God and for that matter, in any work place, when we’re in it only for ourselves.  For when your work ethic is deceptive, and fraudulent…sooner or later you’re gonna get caught!  But when we approach anything we do with cautious wisdom and good common sense…all happiness and success will be ours…for we will not only have God’s favor, but man’s.

II Corinthians 6:1-2 ” As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says, ‘In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

Someday I’ll get right with God.  At some time in the future I’ll give my heart to Him…but not yet.  I’ve got too much I want to do, and I don’t want the rules and regulations of being a Christian to hinder me.  I’m young and I want to just have fun.  Sound like you?  You’ve been holding God at arms length…knowing what you should do, but wanting to wait till you’re “old” to commit.  But consider this – someday may never come for you – your future may end today,  and this is why now is the time to be serious about your eternal salvation.  When we’re young we have this grandiose  vision of immortality, and the future goes on forever…but in an instant…this can all change.  That’s why the Gospel Message is for you today…the forgiveness of your sins is for now, not someday.  Don’t wait until tomorrow to make that decision you know you need to make today…for you may be running out of tomorrows.

Psalm 84:11 “For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”

You have found favor in the eyes of God.  He will be your everlasting light, (Isaiah 60:19) and your shield, your very great reward. (Genesis 15:1)   Walk before Him with all integrity, sincerity, and honesty and He will not hold back any good gift from you.

Romans 6:1-2 ” What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? “

You can’t have it both ways. When you say “Yes” to Jesus, the broken relationship between God and you is restored.  But that doesn’t mean you can manipulate His unearned and unmerited favor to your advantage.  That’s what we’d call cheap grace.  It’s an attitude of entitlement and presumption that you’d rather beg forgiveness than ask permission.

Ephesians 2:8-9 ” For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

It is simply by God’s unearned and unmerited favor that we have the chance to be saved.  It’s by His absolute free expression of His loving kindness towards us that we may come into a right relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ.  This divine gift…the gift of eternal life is not to be taken lightly, or with a casualness that doesn’t fully take into account the terrible price Jesus Christ paid for our freedom.  The gift of salvation can not be bought with a price…for what Jesus did for mankind was priceless.

Acts 6:14 “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”

We have been set free from the heavy yoke of the ceremonial observances of the Mosaic Law…so by not being subject to the Law any longer, it means we will not be judged by the Law and it’s impossible tenets either. For by the blood of Jesus, we have been set free from sin and the Law, and declared righteous by His unearned and unmerited favor… and that wonderful grace of His abounds for all.