"Undeserved Favor" | August 17, 2025 | Ps Joel Lowery

In a world that often feels heavy with expectations, rules, and the constant pressure to measure up, there's a revolutionary message that turns everything on its head. It's a message of grace so profound that it challenges our very understanding of what it means to be "good enough" in God's eyes.

Imagine a crowd of people, tired and worn down by life's demands, listening to a teacher who says, "Unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20) At first glance, this statement might seem to add even more weight to already burdened shoulders. How could anyone surpass the righteousness of those deemed most holy in society?

But as we delve deeper into this teaching, we discover a truth that's both challenging and liberating. The message continues, addressing various aspects of life – from anger to lust, from divorce to oath-making, from retaliation to loving enemies. With each topic, the standard of righteousness is raised higher and higher, until it culminates in the seemingly impossible command: "But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)

It's at this point that we might throw up our hands in despair. Perfect? How can anyone be perfect? And that's precisely the point. This teaching isn't about setting an achievable standard; it's about showing us our desperate need for a savior.

Enter the concept of grace – God's unmerited favor. It's like a divine invitation to step out of our self-imposed chains and into a different kind of restraint altogether. Picture a yoke – the kind used to guide oxen as they plow a field. Now imagine Jesus saying, "For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." (Matthew 11:30)

This is where the revolutionary nature of grace becomes clear. We're not called to bear the weight of perfection alone. Instead, we're invited to join Jesus in His yoke, to walk alongside Him, allowing Him to guide us and bear the heaviest part of the burden.

The implications of this undeserved favor are profound:

1. If you don't earn it, you can't un-earn it.
Grace isn't something we achieve through good behavior. It's a gift freely given. And if we can't earn it, we also can't lose it through our failures. This doesn't mean we can live however we want without consequences, but it does mean that God's love and acceptance aren't dependent on our performance.

2. The power of condemnation is broken.
Living under grace means we're no longer slaves to guilt and shame. Romans 8:1 reminds us, "There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." This freedom allows us to face our mistakes and shortcomings without being crushed by them, enabling true growth and transformation.

3. Grace is about Jesus, not us.
Ephesians 2:4-7 beautifully expresses this truth: "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead... so God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus."

Our stories of transformation become testimonies to God's goodness, inspiring others to embrace His grace as well.

4. You are God's favorite.
This might feel uncomfortable to say or believe, but it's true. God delights in you not because of what you've done, but because of who He is and what Christ has done. Embracing this truth can radically change how we view ourselves and how we live our lives.

The only appropriate response to this lavish grace is surrender. It's laying down our attempts at self-righteousness, our addictions, our unforgiveness, our self-centered living, and saying "yes" to God's way. This surrender might look different for each person – it could mean giving your life to Jesus for the first time, seeking help for a long-standing struggle, forgiving someone who has hurt you deeply, or stepping out to serve others in a new way.

Whatever form it takes, surrender leads us into deeper intimacy with God and greater freedom in our daily lives. It's like trading in heavy chains for a yoke that's shared with the strongest partner imaginable.

As we close, let's reflect on this beautiful paradox: the path to true freedom comes through surrendering to God. It's in giving up our attempts to earn His favor that we fully experience it. It's in admitting our inability to be perfect that we're clothed in Christ's perfection.

Today, what might God be inviting you to surrender? What burdens have you been carrying that He wants to lighten? Remember, His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. You don't have to earn His love or His grace – it's already yours, freely given.

In a world that often feels overwhelming, this message of grace offers a breath of fresh air. It's an invitation to exhale, to relax into God's love, and to find that in losing our life, we truly find it. May we all have the courage to step into this grace, to surrender what holds us back, and to experience the lightness that comes from walking in step with Jesus.