In the movie Courageous, sheriff’s deputy Adam Mitchell proclaims he wants God’s favor on his family and on his life as a matter of obedience to the Lord. This prompted me to consider God’s grace and favor. We understand God’s grace to be his unmerited favor towards us, neither that which we cannot earn nor something he owes us. Because of His great love, God who is rich in mercy has revealed grace to us in Christ Jesus.

But what do we call God’s response to us when we are obedient? Is that also favor? Do we have a name for it?

As a Christ-follower, I think I have shied away from talking about this subject because of my undeserving nature. I see many things in life as acts of the Lord’s grace. But there are Scriptures that point to actions the Lord takes in the lives of his people as a result of their obedience.

Consider this declaration from the Sons of Korah, “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)

I believe we as Christ-followers also refrain from talking about anything the Lord may give in response to our actions because we do not want to cross that line into earning our salvation. So we do not talk often about rewards or merited favor. We probably speak less about seeking it. Thus, when someone did speak of it (albeit a movie character), it caught my attention.

In the Old Testament, the word ”favor” seems to act like the word “grace,” as an unmerited act towards an undeserving person. Other times, it seems to be the result of finding something of worth or value in a person.

So what would we call the Lord’s good gifts that flow from obedience? Does “honor” or “favor” fit well enough? Is there another word or concept we could explore, like “reward?” And while we explore it, could be not be shy about speaking of it to one another. If it is worth seeking, it is worth speaking about.

In today’s news, two kittens found shelter in, of all places, the rear passenger side tire of our Kia.  This was after they appeared on our doorstep the night before, mewed incessantly, then ran away when they seemed to realize that the person at the door was NOT their owner.

It made the morning interesting.

I was preparing to take the girls to school and started the car, which got both kittens mewing, but not moving.  They were not leaving the tire!  Our youngest located them.  We all discovered together that the only way to get them out was by going under the car and pulling them out.  I jacked up the car and went under. I grabbed one by the ear and he came out.  I grabbed the other by the paw and he came out.  We got them into a warm box and Cheryl took it from there.

On the way to work, I mused over the whole incident.  The kittens knew they were in trouble, but they were not about to come out.  The only thing that ended their reluctance was a forced evacuation.  Someone had to rescue them whether they wanted it or not.  Fear caused them to cry out and the same fear caused them to stay put.

Sometimes, that is my story as well.

I know when I am not in the best place or the right place.  I make a bad choice , use the wrong words or display a sour attitude.  I’m in trouble and need help, so I cry out.  But I don’t want to move from my secure location, whether for fear or pride – most of the time, it’s pride.  The only rescue comes from a benevolent forced move.  I need to apologize whether I like it or not.  I need to own up for making a bad situation worse.  The difference is life or death.

I could have knowingly left the kittens there.  After all, we were late!  Now all of you kitten lovers, remember that is not what we did!  It was one option, but we chose health over harm and life over death.  Yes, they are kittens; and they are a creation of the Lord after all. 

I may not always like how the Lord rescues me or shows me that I need rescuing.  But I am always grateful that I am so important to him that he will not leave me in harm’s way when a way of escape can be made.  The temptation to stay where it is comfortable or even pleasurable to my human nature.  But with every temptation, a way of escape has been made.  I am pretty sure that the Lord has used some kindly pulling at an ear or a paw to get me out of the danger zone.

When a customer leaves Brad’s Auto Body (where I work), they receive a mug filled with cellophane -wrapped candy and Tootsie-pops.  I was prepping a few mugs today when I started musing about success and perseverance.  Is it enough for us to persevere?  Do we HAVE to succeed?

For the moment, put aside the question about how we define success.  That question will not get settled here.  For this discussion, I will define success as achieving the desired outcome to a person’s satisfaction.  For one student, success is just passing the test or may be even getting a “B” grade.  For another, success is onloy measured by how strong the “A” is on the same assignment.

I like succeeding at my work, at hobbies, and whatever else I do in life.  Over the last year, I went out on a number of interviews before landing a job prior to the one I hold now.  I did not succeed in all the interviews that led up to the first “yes.”  Sometimes I did not get an interview.  I did keep at the process until I got a (much needed) job.  Not succeeding was difficult.  Persevering was hard. 

A student I know is working hard to succeed in his classes.  He is not succeeding in one class because he is not getting the material.  It doesn’t help him that the teacher is not the best communicator.  He projects that he will not get a good grade in the class which will reflect on his GPA and affect where he goes to school.

This guy is working hard and has defined success as getting an “A.”  It does not seem that it will be enough to take the class, persevere and pass the class.

So I ask you to reflect with me.  Are we so success-driven that we cannot embrace or even enjoy perseverance, if even for a season?  I am asking myself this hard question as I feel I am in that kind of season.  I would love to here what you think.

You might be familiar with a book called Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff. It’s a book devoted to meditations on not worrying about the myriad of things we tend to stress over in life. It has spawned a number of other books, including a series by Bruce Bickle and Stan Janz called God is in the Small Stuff…and It All Matters.

Early last week, I began to stress over a potential life change I have no control over. Forgive me for not mentioning it in specific but that is part of the point of this post. Mind you, the change is no small thing and with no disrespect to the authors of the first title above, this is NOT small stuff.

As with most change, I feel stress. What is on the other side? Will my family and I be taken care of? Where is God in the midst of all this? All of these things I began to lift to my Father in heaven. IN the midst of those prayers, I was directed back to a familiar portion of Scripture in Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

Be anxious for NOTHING, but in ALL things by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7, emphasis added.

There are many things we stress over day to day and it’s small stuff. God invites us to give these to him through prayer. Somewhere along the way, I think I learned that the bigger the issue, the more right I had to be stressed and live in that stress. Go ahead, I reasoned, don’t sweat the small stuff. But if it’s big, then make sure you take the stress seriously!

What dawned on my conscious was that there is NOTHING I should be stressing over in a persistent manner. ANYTHING that would concern my heart should become a signal to seek my Father’s face.

As I have done this with the potential change, I have found His peace in the remembrance that I am his beloved and He will take care of us. He has not alleviated the circumstances nor made life easier. The situation is still unsettled at best. He has made me aware that HE is aware. How much more then should I sweat anything? As Jesus told us in his mountain top sermon, “Do not worry then …”

We just returned from Hartland Christian Camp, where the speaker reminded us that God has a Sabbath rest for us that we enter into only as we allow God to lay bare our souls before Him and His word (Hebrews 4). As we give up control and the things that control us, God gives us mercy. He reminds us that Jesus was tempted as we were in these same things and persevered without sinning. He knows our stress first hand and invites us to rest.

I am not claiming victory at this point. Along with this potential change is my concern for where life is going in the future. I do not feel like I have any say in the script as much as I would like to write it. What I do have is a new scripture focus for this season of life. Don’t stress ANY stuff, but learn to rest in the Lord. That rest comes with an exchange – give the Lord control over the script and He will keep my heart at rest. Give up my control and He will see to it we are cared for. Check back with me in a week or two to see how rested I am.

Last night, the family attended a memorial service for a twenty year-old man who died suddenly and tragically.   My daughters know his brothers and have several other friends in common.  Cheryl and I know a number of people who know the family.  Sadly, we did not know him.

After the service, I mused on the number of funerals I have officiated or attended where I did not know the person being remembered.  Many of these people were remarkable and intriguing.  I am sure I would have loved conversation with this young man about the themes of justice and mercy.

Someone might say that we only see the best of people at their funerals; no one tells the full story during such a sad time.

Iwould beg to differ.  Last night, I heard about the young man who was growing and launching out in faith, but who had not arrived and was still maturing.  In other memorials, I heard numerous counts of the person’s wonderful points and weaknesses.   In some ways, I began to miss these people as if they were part of my community.

The young man we remembered last night was indeed part of my community, even if it was a distant connection.  We both embrace the same Lord and the same hope.  As one eulogizer said, ”he is a part of me even though he is dead.”  He is still very much alive for the impact he had on those he knew.     

So I grieve for those who grieve and pray for their comfort.  I also grieve with them for the many opportunities that will not materialize.  I grieve for the relationships he leaves for now, and for the relationship he and I will not share (whether we would have or not, I do not kn0w; I can only imagine).  But we all grieve as people who have hope in Jesus, for in Him we will all be reunited.  In that day, there will be no parting.  I will know face to face what did not materialize for us here on earth.

Peace to S.D. as he rests in the arms of Jesus and to his family and many friends, his community.  I grieve with you and look forward to connecting with him again…for the first time.