How do I grow in favor with God
There were certain people that attracted the attention of Jesus; what was unique about them?
1. Child-like nature
Matthew 18:2-4
Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Why do we pretend to have it all together and know it all - a child doesn’t do that, pharisee's do, however.
2. Position of faith
Who: Woman with the issue of blood Position: pushing through the crowd
Who: Zacchaeus Position: climbed up a tree
Who: Bartimaeus Position: side of the road crying out
Who: Woman with the alabaster jar Position: at the feet of Jesus
Who: Lame man + friends Position: lowered through the roof
3. Resilience & Consistency
God's nature is unchanging He is the same yesterday, today & tomorrow.
Hebrews 6:17-19a
17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
What are you anchored to?
The history behind the hymn "It is well with my soul" (click to read further)
Matthew 7:24-27
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the flood waters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.
Sand: ever-changing, in a state of constant flux, unreliable & easily dislodged.
Rock: complete stability & solidarity, forged over many years of consistent time & pressure.
Paving stone: a man-made shortcut, looks like a rock, feels like a rock, made to look like the real thing but lacking the strength of time and pressure and Gods process and under any kind of weight will fall apart & is ultimately no better than sand.
Matthew 16:18
18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’),[f] and upon this rock I will build.”