Scripture Reading
John 12:23-33, Jesus says that a seed must die before it can produce a harvest. He likens this to His own approaching death, which is His purpose in coming to earth.
Why do you want the favor of the Lord on your life? Is it for His mission or yours?
Jesus was on His Father's mission. He made that clear with every word and every action. The Father's favor rested on Jesus not just so Jesus could do good deeds and heal people, but so that He could fulfill His Father's purpose. And the Father's purpose was for Jesus to die. Jesus said: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain .” Jesus' death was necessary for life to flow. He had to die in order to reap a harvest of redeemed souls for His Father's kingdom.
Like Jesus, we are called to die . God's favor is for dying. He gives us His favor so that we can offer ourselves as living sacrifices. Favor is not the highest accomplishment in life. Fulfilling God's purpose is . And God's purpose is that we die—to sin, fear and personal agendas—so that we may live in Christ. When we live in Christ we become partners with Him in helping reconcile a lost world to Father God.
Paul said that we should consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. This is the only way we can fulfill our life purpose in God. And it is the ultimate reason why God places His favor on us. When Esther approached the king unsummoned, to appeal for her people, she was already as good as dead. By law she could have been executed. But Esther had already died to self-will and personal ambition because she was alive to a higher purpose—saving her people from annihilation. This was also God's purpose. And when Esther aligned herself with God's purpose, His purpose was fulfilled and life flowed.
Do you want to walk in the purposes of God? Do you want His favor to rest on you? Then be prepared to die. Favor is for dying!
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