‘”Kemuliaan bagi Allah di tempat yang mahatinggi dan damai sejahtera di bumi di antara manusia yang berkenan kepada-Nya.” ‘- Lukas 2:14

‘“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” ‘
Luke 2:14

https://www.bible.com/id/bible/306/LUK.2.14

Ada 3 orang yang hidupnya dalam Favor Tuhan :

1. Maria Ibu Yesus : ‘But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ‘ – Luke 1:30
2. Elisabeth sepupu Maria Ibu Yesus : ‘But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ‘ – Luke 1:43
3. Yesus Kristus : ‘And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.’ – Luke 2:52

Favorit berasal dari kata Favor, yang berarti kesukaan. Mengapa dari sekian banyak wanita pada waktu itu, Maria yang dipilih oleh Tuhan untuk mengandung Tuhan Yesus. Pastilah karena Maria mendapatkan tempat di hati Tuhan, menjadi favorit, yang paling disuka oleh Tuhan dari seluruh wanita saat itu.

Anugerah adalah segala kemurahan Tuhan yang kita terima padahal kita tidak pantas menerimanya. Siapakah saya sehingga saya layak mendapatkan favor Tuhan, tapi kita membutuhkan favor Tuhan agar hidup kita bisa sejalan dengan rencana Tuhan.

Manfaat yang akan kita nikmati apabila kita hidup dibawah favor:

1. Pintu-pintu yang tertutup rapat akan terbuka!
2. Ia akan menjadi orang yang diberkati. Kej 39:21-23 – ‘the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. ‘ – Genesis 39:21
3. Memberikan hormat dan respect. Keluaran 11:3 – ‘(The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.) ‘ – Exodus 11:3
4. Memberikan perlindungan. Ayub 1:10 – ‘“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. ‘ – Job 1:10
5. Membawa promosi. Kej 39:4 – ‘Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. ‘ – Genesis 39:4. Ester 1:15-17 – ‘“According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.” Then Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’ ‘ – Esther 1:15-17
6. Membawa pemulihan. 2 Sam 15:25-26 – ‘Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord ’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.” ‘ – 2 Samuel 15:25-26

Benar memang favor diberikan oleh Tuhan, namun ada hal-hal yang dikerjakan oleh kita yang menarik favor Tuhan.

The Secret of God’s Favor. (Psalms 1:1-3)

‘Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord , and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. ‘

1. Apa yang jangan dilakukan (dont’s).
   • Do not walk in step with the wicked.
   • Stand in the way that sinners.
   • Take or sit in the company of mockers.
   • ‘Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. ‘ – Proverbs 13:20
   • Carilah dahulu kerajaan Allah ! maka semuanya akan ditambahkan kepadamu (favor).
   • ‘There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. ‘ – Proverbs 14:12
2. Apa yang harus dilakukan (do)
   • Delight in the law of the Lord.
   • Meditates on his law day and night.
   • Membangun disiplin rohani. Semua disiplin itu memang tidak enak pada awalnya, namun lama-kelamaan akan menjadi delight, menjadi kesukaan.
3. Hasilnya
   • Kestabilan hidup: Like a tree planted by streams of water.
   • Berbuah dalam segala era: Yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
   • Kelimpahan tercurah: Whatever they do prospers.
     

Seringkali kita kelihatan beriman, memiliki/ memegang iman, namun seringkali ada hal lain yang Tuhan ingin bentuk dari diri kita. Karena seringkali pula kita menggunakan firman Tuhan, atau dengan alasan iman namun ternyata semua itu karena logika, karena kesombongan diri sendiri.

Dirham yang hilang dicari, domba yang hilang dicari, namun tidak untuk anak bungsu yang hilang. Tuhan mengizinkan manusia untuk berjalan menurut jalan yang kita mau, sampai pada satu titik, kita pulang kembali dan mengikuti Bapa.

Mari bangkitkan lagi kerinduan, untuk membaca dan merenungkan firman Tuhan agar apa saja yang kita kerjakan berhasil (prosper).

Amin.