Undeserved Favor

Jan. 22, 2018 | By Creflo Dollar

We all make mistakes and fall short occasionally, but sometimes we have trouble bouncing back. Intellectually we know we’re saved, but we still may have a tendency to beat ourselves up over missing the mark. At times like these we especially need to study and meditate on the Word of God regarding forgiveness, and remind ourselves of His unconditional love and acceptance. The times when we feel undeserving of anything but condemnation for what we did are the times when we unexpectedly receive undeserved favor from God.

We don’t have to be perfectionists or feel like we must do everything right. This is unrealistic and it puts too much pressure on us. God doesn’t operate by the “leave no room for error” standard that the world accepts. He knows all about our future mistakes, but He already forgave us for them. “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins” (Romans 3:23, 24, NLT).

Too many people lift this Scripture out of context and simply stop at the first verse, but God refused to let it end there. He, instead, chose to continue on by sending us His Son to extend His favor toward us. It’s certainly important to forgive others, but it all starts with forgiving ourselves, first. God’s grace is deliberate and intentional, and it’s directed squarely at us. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV).

Jesus showed favor toward the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), toward Zacchaeus, the tax collector who stole from others (Luke 19:1-9), and toward the criminal hanging on a cross (Luke 23:39-43); and He’s willing to do the same for us. He doesn’t require that we never make any errors; He simply asks for an obedient heart and complete trust in Him. Grace is, quite literally, Jesus’ nature, and He extends forgiveness to everyone who accepts it. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

There will never be anything that we’ve done that was so bad that God can’t forgive us. He forgave Abraham, a liar; David, an adulterer; and Paul, a murderer, and He forgave us also. Before we were even born, the blood Jesus shed for us on the cross washed away every sin we could ever commit. Whatever reasoning we might use to justify blaming ourselves for our mistakes is no match for the power of God’s grace. “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Romans 5:20, NKJV).

Forgetting about Jesus’ undeserved favor is like trying to drag ourselves through life under a heavy load of self-condemnation. We need what He can give us. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:28-30, MSG). This is truly a gift!

Jesus or Religion?

By Creflo Dollar

Read more