The Favour of the Lord

UV 879/10,000 The Favour of the Lord “For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” 2 Peter 1 v 17 Many believers think that God the Father would only endorse His Son Jesus alone in the words recorded in the gospels, “ This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” But the truth is the Lord God delights in so endorsing those who not just believe in Him and His Word but who delight in doing His will. This is the biblical pattern of filial obedience and parental satisfaction : Every child should make his or her parents pleased with him or her. The resurrected Jesus told His disciples to go tell the other believers that He was ascending to His Father and their Father, His God and their God. It implies that Jesus has declared us all to be His brothers and sisters. Just as the Father delighted in His relationship with Jesus as evidenced in the Holy Spirit descending in the shape of a dove upon Jesus as He obeyed God ‘s will in taking baptism in the waters of Jordan at the hands of one who was lesser than Him by John’s own testimony, He delights in each of us and affirms us with these same words, “ This is my beloved son/daughter in whom I am well pleased.” It implies that we have won the favour of God. It will surround us from then on just as the Ark of His presence ensured victory for the Israelites under Joshua as long as they were faithful and obedient. The favour or grace of the Lord surrounds us like a shield at all times. In a time of prayer, I heard these words, “ This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” The Lord went on to say, “ I am pleased with you as you are adoring me all the time. You are proclaiming my glory. You are proclaiming my Word.” Indeed, the Lord delights in honouring His children. He does not hesitate in sharing His glory with us. His glory or fullness excels everything we have seen or heard or experienced or dreamt of. When we walk in the cloud of His presence all the time, we will perceive this glory. It is not an evanescent glory that will pass away. It is His eternal glory. We will hear His voice from time to time as we are overshadowed by His presence. When Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, her pregnancy that held the hope of humanity for eternal life and salvation progressed well. Similarly, when we are overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, our hope will be brought to fruition in this life and the life to come. Prateep V Philip