How can we ensure God's favor rather than opposition in our daily actions? The Sobering Word: Leviticus 26:17 “I will set My face against you, and you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.” Why God’s Face Matters When God “sets His face against” someone, every sphere of life feels the headwind. The covenant warnings in Leviticus 26 reveal that divine opposition is never random; it responds to covenant unfaithfulness. To walk in God’s favor instead: • Seek His face, not merely His gifts (Psalm 27:8). • Welcome His correction before it becomes discipline (Hebrews 12:5-6). • Remember that obedience invites blessing, not bondage (John 14:21). Key Pathways to Divine Favor 1. Whole-Hearted Obedience • Leviticus 26:3-4 promises, “If you follow My statutes and carefully keep My commandments, I will give you rains in their season…”. • Obedience is practical: honesty at work, purity in relationships, generosity with resources. 2. Reverent Worship • Leviticus 26:1 forbids idols. Anything—career, entertainment, even ministry—that rivals God’s supremacy invites His opposition. • John 4:24: “God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” 3. Humble Dependence • James 4:6: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” • Pride says, “I’ve got this.” Humility says, “Without You I can do nothing” (John 15:5). 4. Ongoing Repentance • Leviticus 26:40-42 shows the escape hatch: confession and humility restore the covenant. • 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 5. Covenant Loyalty through Christ • The ultimate obedience is trusting God’s Son. Galatians 3:13-14 reveals that Christ absorbed the curse so believers might receive the blessing. • Daily faith in Christ aligns us with God’s pleasure (Romans 5:1-2). Practical Daily Steps • Start each morning inviting God to search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24). • Read a portion of Scripture, asking, “What command can I obey today?” • Choose one tangible act of kindness that reflects His character. • End the day in honest review: celebrate obedience, confess missteps, receive cleansing. Encouragement to Persist God’s favor is not fragile. He delights to bless those who walk with Him (Psalm 84:11). When failure occurs, run toward Him, not away. His opposition turns to embrace the moment we return with humble, obedient hearts. |
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