God's favor is a profound gift that works within each of us, the elect of Jesus Christ, as we strive to live in harmony with Him, following His supreme example of self-sacrifice. He counts on us to fulfill our roles with an awareness of His favor, constantly active in our lives, as we approach sacred times like Passover. His favor makes us uniquely special to Him, uniting us as one body through Jesus Christ, with His grace dwelling in each of us. Through His favor, He patiently brings men of faith into His purpose, making our entrance into His Family a distinct possibility as we faithfully use His grace to become preachers of righteousness in word and deed, just as Noah did in a time opposed to God's grace. His favor is evident in His meticulous work from beginning to end, guiding us toward repentance, salvation, and knowledge of the truth through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His favor also protected individuals like Enoch, who walked with Him and was taken away, possibly to shield him from harm in a world overwhelmed by evil, reflecting His long and patient strategy. In Noah's time, His favor provided the tools needed to build the ark, preserving the line of men despite widespread wickedness, as He continued His plan toward merciful redemption. His favor looked upon Noah, who faithfully lived and learned His way, setting him apart in his generations. Through His favor, we too become part of His living witness of faith, trusting in the hope before us through the merciful and complete work of Jesus Christ.

God's favor is a vital aspect of the relationship between Him and those who seek Him with a humble and contrite spirit. In Genesis 18:3, the Hebrew word "khane," translated as favor, signifies kindness or beauty, reflecting a disposition of favorable action toward the recipient. This favor often comes as a response to an action or condition, as seen in the lives of individuals like Noah, who found favor in the sight of the Lord. The more one leans on Him and the truth of His Word, rather than limited human understanding, the more likely He will grant His favor, shaping a way of thinking aligned with His own, a witness to His righteousness and way of life. God's strong desire is to grant His favor to those who embody the humble attitude of the publican, demonstrating a teachable and child-like spirit. This favor is not merely a gift but a call to live as He lives, with outgoing concern and sacrificial service to both God and man. Among the humbly upright, who walk reverently and worshipfully fearing the Lord, there is comprehensive insight into His ways and purposes, accompanied by His favor. As part of the journey toward the Feast of Firstfruits, maintaining this first love relationship with Him ensures growth in His favor, ultimately shown through the fruit of sacrificial service mirroring that of the Father and the Son.

God's favor forms part of a triad—grace, mercy, and favor—that stands at the heart of this introductory message in a series building toward the Feast of Firstfruits. The subject arose from a simple question sent in response to a Daily Berean commentary on the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 18:9-14, where the phrase "to the beaten" became a key that unlocked the entire discussion. This parable illustrates two opposite ways of receiving God's favor: the Pharisee, who compared himself favorably to others and thereby fell into pride and separation from God, and the Publican, who beat his breast in humble recognition of his sinfulness and was justified. The favor God extends is not meant to inflate self-confidence but to be received with the same contrition and gratitude the Publican displayed. The danger highlighted is that those who have been given the privilege of understanding God's truth may unconsciously slip into a Pharisaical attitude, viewing themselves as superior to those outside the Body of Christ who have not yet received the same calling. The common phrase "there but for the grace of God go I" can be spoken either with humble appreciation, like the Publican, or with hidden self-congratulation, like the Pharisee. A personal account of failing to maintain humility after a difficult phone conversation illustrates how easily this trap can be sprung even while sincerely trying to apply godly principles. Scriptural support reinforces that God's favor is directed toward the humble and contrite: Isaiah 66:1-2 and Isaiah 57:15 both emphasize that God looks upon those who are poor in spirit and tremble at His word. Luke 12:42-48 adds that greater privilege brings greater accountability, meaning that the favor of being called as firstfruits carries with it a heightened responsibility to act in humility rather than pride. Passages from II Peter 3 and I Timothy 2 reveal God's patient, favorable intention toward all humanity, desiring that all come to repentance and knowledge of the truth, which means those currently called should not view their favored status as grounds for contempt toward others still outside the faith. I Corinthians 1:19-31 further clarifies that God's favor is not based on human wisdom, strength, or nobility, but is granted so that no one may glory in His presence except in the Lord. I Peter 5:5-11 explicitly states that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble, tying favor directly to humility and submission. The concluding passage from Romans 8:27-39 affirms that those who maintain this humble, "beaten" attitude can be assured of God's justifying and glorifying purpose, secure in a love from which nothing can separate them. Ultimately, God's favor toward the called is portrayed as an unearned privilege demanding humble stewardship, not a badge of superiority.

As the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread approach, the elect are called to be acutely aware that God's grace, mercy, and favor are actively working within them individually and collectively as the Body of Christ. This favor is not a static gift but a privileged responsibility that must never be carelessly forsaken or abandoned, since God is counting on His called-out ones to fulfill their purpose through this indwelling grace. Paul's appeal in II Corinthians establishes that those in Christ are new creations, reconciled to God and given the ministry of reconciliation, yet warned not to receive this grace "in vain"—meaning without purpose or fruit. Citing John Ritenbaugh's commentary, receiving grace in vain means neglecting cooperation with God, drifting into resistance rather than allowing His creative work to produce Christian character and works. God's favor must never become a badge of prideful righteousness, like the Pharisee who boasted in himself, but should instead produce grateful humility, recognizing that only the costly mercy of the Father and the Word has placed the elect in their present position. This grace is meant to be lived out, not merely professed—true religion is not a way to reach God but a way of living that flows from God, as Ritenbaugh's reflection on Jacob's ladder illustrates. God meets His people and gives them a way of life to follow, and they in turn pledge obedience. The simplicity of this truth—that God's grace dwelling within enables the fruit of righteousness—has been distorted by Satan, just as he corrupted Eve's understanding. Some twist grace into license for sin, as Jude warns, turning it into occasion for lewdness rather than holiness. Hebrews soberly warns that trampling the Son of God underfoot and insulting the Spirit of grace brings severe consequence; grace is not a guarantee of "once saved, always saved," but a transformative power meant to produce righteous living from the inside out. John 1 reveals Christ as the Word full of grace and truth, the light shining in a dark world that did not comprehend Him. Those who receive Him become children of God, called now to reflect that same light as preachers of righteousness, following the pattern of Noah, in a world growing increasingly dark. This is only possible because of God's costly sacrifice, which now allows His grace to dwell within believers as a functioning reality, not a future hope. Romans 8 confirms that those in whom the Spirit of grace dwells are no longer condemned, no longer bound to the flesh, but empowered to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law through the Spirit. This indwelling grace confirms sonship, adoption, and the hope of glorification with Christ. Approaching Passover, the enormous cost paid by the Father and the Son to place this Spirit of grace within believers must be solemnly considered, recognizing it as the very key to a righteous way of life granted through Jesus Christ.

God's favor, expressed through His grace and sovereign election, forms the foundation for understanding how His people can withstand deception and remain faithful, in contrast to the world's reliance on flattery and manipulation. Daniel 11:32 warns that the end-time Beast will corrupt some of the converted through charm and political seduction, appealing to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Yet those who truly know God will stand firm and do exploits, because knowing God is the foundation of faith and the safeguard against seduction. This divine favor is not distributed equally or based on merit. God's love and grace operate according to His own sovereign will rather than human worthiness. Grace, defined as favor shown to the undeserving, stands opposed to justice, which demands impartial treatment. Because God is sovereign over law, sin, and death, grace is entirely His to bestow as He chooses. This truth is illustrated through Jacob and Esau: before either had done good or evil, God declared His love for Jacob and His hatred for Esau, demonstrating that His choice rested solely on His own purpose, not on works. Deuteronomy 7:7-8 confirms that Israel was chosen not for greatness but simply because God loved them and kept His oath to their fathers. Ephesians 1:3-6 extends this principle to believers, who were chosen and predestined according to the good pleasure of God's will rather than foreseen merit or ethnic identity. This sovereign favor is further illustrated through Isaiah's description of Israel as a mere "worm" whom God nonetheless chooses to strengthen and uphold, transforming worms and dust into holy and powerful instruments through His grace. The parable of the laborers in the vineyard reinforces that God retains the right to distribute His goodness as He pleases, without obligation to human notions of fairness, since "many are called, but few chosen." God's favor also operates within the broader pattern of His sovereignty over all creation, seen in the vast diversity of animals, celestial bodies, and human abilities, all ordered according to His will "for Himself." Just as He chooses to endow one creature with speed and another with longevity, so He grants blessings unevenly among people, not because of inherent worth but because of His own purposes. This sovereignty extends personally into believers' lives, as seen in John the Baptist's humble recognition that a man can receive nothing unless it is given him from heaven. John's contentment when his followers turned to Christ demonstrates trust that God distributes favor and assigns people according to His own will, not human ambition. Ultimately, understanding God's favor as freely and sovereignly given cultivates humility, gratitude, and steadfastness. Recognizing that salvation and blessing come by grace rather than works excludes all boasting and roots security in God's character rather than human effort. This understanding prepares believers to resist the counterfeit favor offered by the Beast's flatteries, choosing instead to trust the sovereign God who freely bestows His favor according to the good pleasure of His will, both now and forever.