Hi Brian,
The word for this week is "favor", or "favour" as the KJV Bible has it! There are a few different words translated favor in the Bible. The first one that we will be looking at is found in Genesis 39:21:
21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
This is the Hebrew word "chen" which means: favor, grace, acceptance according to Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: favor, grace, to favor someone. The Dictionary definition for favor includes: an attitude of approval or liking, approving consideration or attention. God caused Joseph to find approval with the keeper of the prison so that He could bless him!
Another word is used in Psalm 5:12:
12 For You, LORD, will bless the righteous; with favour will You compass him as with a shield.
This is the Hebrew word "ratsown" which means: a pleasure, a delight, goodwill, acceptance, according to Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon. The righteous are those who have right standing with God, or the "right" to stand before Him as though we've never done anything wrong! We have the potential, as believers, to be received by the people who have influence in our lives with pleasure, delight and approval! That means on the job, in business, in friendships. What we DO with that favor will determine the results. Adding diligence, hard work, faith, consistency, creativity to what we do will assure us of positive results!
Then the last one that we'll look at is found in Luke 2:52:
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
This is the Greek word "charis" which means: graciousness, acceptance, favour, grace, liberality, pleasure, according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: good-will, loving-kindness. It is also translated grace in the New Testament. Jesus did this NOT because He was God, but because He obeyed God's Word, respected His parents, walked in love and meditated on the Word of God day and night (Joshua 1:8)! We CAN have the same results! Here is an old song from Hillsong called "One Day":
You ARE highly favored of the LORD! You have already done well with that favor. I am convinced that the best is yet to come!
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
