Dear All,
In our society we sometimes find employers, teachers or leaders who show favour on a selected few because of their level of commitment and passion. The recipient of such favour enjoys an inner satisfaction that is not available to others.
Favour of God
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:11
Elisha advised the Shunammite woman to leave Samaria because the Lord was about to bring a famine to the land for seven years. Having heard the word, she and her household obeyed and moved to live in the land of the Philistines for seven years.
When the famine ended, she returned to her own country, only to find that her house and her belongings had been taken over. Elisha had previously been immensely blessed by the hospitality of the Shunammite woman and had wanted to reciprocate her kindness in some way. Therefore, he had sent word through his servant, asking if he could speak on her behalf to the king or to the commander of the army. (2 Kings 4:13) Being a wonderfully content woman, she had politely declined the offer at that time. However, with the change of events, she went to make an appeal to the king for her house and for her land.
When it was brought to the notice of the king that it was this woman whose son had been brought back to life by Elisha, the king was exceedingly favorable to her. As a result, the king appointed a certain officer for her, to restore all that was hers as well as all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land to that day. (2 Kings 8:4-5) The woman found favour in the sight of God because she cared for Elisha who was a devout man of God.
Just as God provided for this woman during the famine and then restored to her all that was lost by moving the heart of the king, He is able to put the right people in the right places for those who have generously given to the work of His kingdom.
Like the Shunammite woman, when we honour those who serve God, His untold favour will surely come to us.
Dear Lord,
I come to You in Jesus’ name and seek You to help me serve You by caring for the needs of those who diligently work to build Your kingdom. Amen.
God bless you,
Theo and Manju