We Are Graciously Restored to Favor

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We Are Graciously Restored to Favor

Andrea Lende • December 23, 2021

II Corinthians 5:19

We Are Graciously Restored To Favor

You can listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/We-Are-Graciously-Restored-to-Favor-e1c3c5q

II Corinthians 5:19

“It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but canceling them] and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).”

We’ve been getting all things ready for Christmas over this last week.

And I find myself looking at everything through the lens of the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Our passage touched my heart as I read, “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.”

We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.”

So undeserved and yet so graciously given.

We have favor with the Lord.

Imagine what it really means to have favor with the One Who Created all things.

Favor with Almighty God and His Son Jesus.

Being part of the royal kingdom.

Heirs with Christ.

And Jesus’ sacrifice made this possible.

He chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect.

Being born into this dusty messy world.

He chose difficulty over ease.

Living two thousand years ago was hard.

Growing up must have been hard for Him.

Learning a trade as a Carpenter knowing His true purpose was to save the world must have been hard.

I imagine nothing about Jesus’ life was easy.

And yet, He was willing to come to this earth to save us all.

“It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.”

Cancelling our trespasses, sins, and shortcomings in God’s eyes.

Making us perfect in His sight.

We have so much to be thankful for in the birth of Christ.

Today I choose to hold Jesus’ sacrifice close to my heart as I continue to make plans to celebrate His birth.

May you find God’s graciousness is spilled over into all the areas of your life this Christmas Eve Day.

Daily Prayer:

O Lord, my God, thank You for reminding me of the blessed reason we celebrate Your Son’s birth. Thank You for restoring me to favor with You. Help me reflect on Your immense grace today. Help me hold Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice close to my heart. His life was a merciful sacrifice as He left the perfection of heaven’s door. He gave unselfishly in every way. Help me give of myself, Father. Keep me from being selfish and stingy. Help me give freely and abundantly to those around me. I pray for strength to do all You ask me to do. Help me serve with a joyful and celebratory heart today. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.

Answer: I gave My Son to bring you close to Me for you are beautiful to Me My child, and I want to be close to you.

Response: Undeserving of all You have done for me, thank You most gracious and merciful God.

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Restored to God's Favor

By Andrea Lende • December 21, 2022

What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.

This is a picture of red Christmas balls and the words Merry Christmas

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