Your Season of the Lord’s Favour
For he says, “In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation. (2Cor 6:2)
The farmer understands well the significance of seasons because he needs all of them to be able to harvest with a smile; good rains falling in their time and sunshine following as expected will be an immense blessing to the farmer that was found ready – having planted in good soils at the right time. The good harvest that brings abundance of food will guarantee life to both the farmer and the community. In the history of God’s people, seasons of immense favour were experienced at various points, bringing life and vitality among a people that were facing deathly situations: After 400 years in slavery in Egypt, God poured out his favour and chose to lead the Israelites out of this bondage to form them into a nation. After 70 years of Jerusalem’s desolation and Israel’s captivity, the favour of the Lord flooded and the Persian King sent them back to rebuild the temple and resettle into their capital city.
The most significant season of the Lord’s favour was when Jesus lived here on earth; he accomplished all that was prophesied – healing the sick, releasing captives who had been held in bondages of demonic possession and physical disability, preaching good news to ‘the poor’ who were both in Israel and Gentile territories. Those who acknowledged their need for the life-giving message received Jesus’ ministry with joy. Jesus ushered in a season of grace that we still enjoy until He comes again. When Saul (Paul) encountered Him on the road to Damascus, he had lived a life of deep religious zeal and legalistic righteousness but almost missing the shift in God’s move to save the world. Saul’s encounter sent him ‘back to school’ and he learnt that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the many prophecies he had studied.
Writing to the Corinthians, Paul argues that this Christ-given dispensation of grace is the acceptable time and the day of salvation. This time will end when Jesus comes back, and there will be no more grace! Those who have received Him in this time will enjoy the presence of God in eternity while the others will be eternally separated. It is important that we take advantage of the knowledge of times and seasons: as a University student, sow the seeds that will make you fruitful tomorrow in career and in the Kingdom of God; the seeds of discipline and study. And in the field, every worker must sow the seeds of excellence in order to make full use of the opportunity while it still lasts. Most importantly, none of us should miss the ‘time of salvation’ which is now. The Lord’s ear is inclined and his arms are wide open to receive all that come to Him today.
God bless you all.