“What is the favor line? It’s the invisible line that tells us whether or not we’ve met enough of someone’s expectations to merit approval. It’s impossible to live in this world without recognizing the favor line’s impact on every area of life”. Wayne Jacobsen, He Loves Me!
We Don’t seem to
measure up!
We want to find the favor line with our family, friends, work,
and people we meet. We do the same thing with God. We want to reach for the
favor line to be accepted. We so often fall short. We don’t seem to measure up.
After we accepted Christ into our lives we go through a
mountain top experience. Then comes the valley experience. You know,
temptations and problems that overwhelm us. And again we don’t seem to measure
up!
Reason why?
1 Peter 5.8 tells us that the Devil is active and not going to
stop. Have you ever been in the mountains and have a mountain lion stock you. I
was walking along the trail by myself and there was a feeling that something
was out there. I could here him stepping in the dry leaves and a brief look of
brownish fir between the trees. But he stayed at a distance.
Today we have the same thing taking place. The devil is a
roaring lion seeking people to destroy. We are going to look what Paul says in
Romans 7:18-24 about his struggle trying to measure up to that favor line.
Realize our condition.
Romans 7:18 Paul says
that he has a sinful nature. That there is nothing good in him. He realize that
true goodness is a product from God. So the first step Paul take is to realize
his condition.
Also realizing the
condition of the world we live. We live in a sinful environment. Our nature and
the nature of this world moves towards sin. If you have become a new follower
of Christ you can expect trouble. Satan is going to double his effort. He will
go out of his way to try and tempt, discourage, and destroy you.
Desire.
The rest of Romans 7:18 says that Paul has the desire to good. The
desire to do what Gods wants to keeps us in motion toward Jesus. So when we
don’t measure up to the favor line we began to look toward God.
Battle wages on
Romans 7:19-21
We need to understand
that there is a battle going on within each of us. That battle is surrendering
ourselves to God. I knew a pastor who would always say “all you need to do is
die. He would go on to say can a dead man sin”. The problem is he is missing the point. Once we put the
emphasis on us it take away from look toward Jesus.
We all go through a
struggle each day. The battle rages on!
Victory
Romans 7:23-24 Paul finally gets to the end and simply says
there is no hope within us. He calls himself a “wretched man.” I know I have
felt that way before. That everything I do is simply does not measure up.
Romans 7:25 - The only one who can save us. There is only one
who can rescue us from our condition that is Jesus Christ. This is the key. As
long as we try and try we will never make it. We will never measure up the
favor line. Its when we stop trying. Because the victory comes through Jesus
Christ only.
I read a book I highly recommend is a book by Chip Ingram, The Invisible War. In this book he make
an observation that I believe is true. We are in a battle that is going on
around us. Our job is to claim the victory.
So often we think that we are fighting for victory But as Chip
Ingram points out “As believers in Christ, we do not fight for victory;
we fight from victory. Christ
has already won the fight. He the only one that can be measured up to the favor
line. We don’t have to because He has done it for us.
Are you willing to stop trying and let go and let God?
