First, a word of explanation: A kind reader inquired why I closed last Thursday’s Everyday Life with the words, “Love you, Poppa.” Well that was a mistake, but let me explain my oversight. I first write these devotionals to my grandchildren. When our eldest granddaughter, now graduated, went to university, I wanted to remind her of the wisdom and practicality of God’s Truth for her everyday life. I have continued to share with our grandchildren what I have been taught and have found to be essential understandings of how spiritual life works in exactly the places you and I live – at school, home, church, work, and relationships.

I have been their pastor all their lives and want them to know this is much more than what I teach professionally; this is what I believe and try to live personally. This devotional is my commitment to make every effort for the next generation of our family to appreciate and understand the Biblical principles upon which Gayle’s and my life, family, and ministry have been anchored. I want their lives to be built on eternal truth, not temporal opinions. I want to responsibly pass on what has been graciously placed into my life. I always close my comments to them with this reminder of my love, “Love you, Poppa.”

With their permission, I have shared my comments with a growing number of others when EveryDay life has been requested, now about 2,000 subscribed readers as well as others with whom they choose to share them. When copying for the broader mailing, I did not notice I had failed to change that closing; so now you know why . . Love, Poppa!

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“Noah found favor with the Lord.” Genesis 6:8 NLT

“Life is not about doing the minimum; life is about giving your maximum.”

My thoughts today are about “finding favor.”

It’s very useful in life to have the favor of people who can assist and bless your life. Such good will, or favor, is not your right or something you earn or barter for; it is a kind and gracious response from another’s regard and appreciation for your example and efforts, when they are in a position to observe and reciprocate. Never take such kindness lightly. It is good to be likable and truly thankful, not for what you can get but because that’s true to who you are. Make it easy for people to show you kindness, and be expressively and sincerely grateful when they do.

You do not altogether earn the gift favor from others – some measure is always a gift – but favor comes more readily when you live in such a way that others see the wisdom and benefit of extending grace on your behalf. Hopefully, they observe your lifestyle of extending favor generously to others, and view your treating others kindly as you have been treated. The words of Jesus come to mind: “Do for others as you would like them to do for you . . freely you have received, freely give.” Luke 6:31 NLT/Matthew 10:8 NIV.

The most significant source of favor comes from God, the Source of all grace and mercy. People can be fickle; God is faithful and “His favor lasts a lifetime.” Psalm 30:5 NLT. Today’s verse says, “Noah found favor with the Lord.” Genesis 6:8 NLT. I enjoy the paraphrase of this same verse in The Message, “But Noah was different; God liked what He saw in Noah.” Favor is the natural response to what God and others see you to be. That’s why grace and favor are given.

This gracious act of God toward Noah is vividly drawn against the bleak backdrop of God’s description of the people and times in which Noah lived, “The Lord observed the extent of the people’s wickedness . . that all their thoughts were consistently and totally evil . . but Noah was different.” (vs. 5-8 NLT). God saw a different heart in Noah; God liked the difference He saw! In the worst of times and in the most demanding of circumstances, God saw something in Noah that was to be found nowhere else.

God asked Noah to do something, building an ark for the saving of his household – a task he could not possibly understand, for conditions he had never seen, among people who would not understand. Yet Noah chose to obey God without regard for other’s opinions or his own personal cost. Here’s the Bible’s record: “So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.” Genesis 6:22 NLT. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1 NIV/Hebrews 13:20-21 NKJV.

Don’t settle with being like others, satisfied with the norm and content with being average. Raise the bar; seek to excel; be your best, not because that may gain you something but just because you should and you can. Favor comes to those who excel, exceeding expectations while setting a good and Godly example. Life is not about doing the minimum; life is about giving your maximum. You give little; you get little. Give much; much is received.

My prayer for you today is that you will live a life that God can honor and bless.

With regard and appreciation for you, Allen