THE COST OF FAVOR

I hear the words "fractionary cost." The Spirit is saying, "it will only cost you a fraction of what it cost others. The time is short and grace abounds in order to reach a lost people, to make a deeper and lasting impact, to change the trajectory of their lives. What you desire will cost you but it will not cost what it has others. This is my favor. Your business, your home, your ministry, your family --- call it under the umbrella of my favor and I will bring it to pass."

“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first . . . So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:8,16)

This parable describes a vineyard owner hiring workmen to work in His vineyard. But He goes to the marketplace every 3 hours and hires more who he sees are idle. Near the end of the day he sees more men in the marketplace idle and asks why they haven't worked. They said "because no one has hired us." They had been willing, but opportunity had not happened. The vineyard owner hired them and and at the end of the day had his steward to call all the workers in to get paid, to provide pay first to the last ones who were hired, and equal wage with those who had worked all day.

Many of us would have reacted much like the workers who were hired first. We would have thought the owner (like a boss or parent) was "unfair" in paying the same wages for less time spent working. But, like the vineyard owner, everything belongs to God. He can do as He wills. Though it may sometimes seem God is "unfair," we know He is righteous.

I believe we're nearing the end of our time on this earth. The night is fast approaching and we can only work in daylight. So, in order to achieve the "expected end" God is "choosing" us on whom to pour His favor. He has called many in the past, but we are a "chosen" generation.

Whatever you have desired to do, to become, to bring forth, etc. God is opening the heavens to release favor to this last generation, just as He did on the first, even though we've not paid the same price! Jump through the window of opportunity and receive God's favor on your life! We will still have persecutions for being followers of Christ, but the rate of return will far outweigh the cost. Jesus said, " there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[a] or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time [emphasis mine]—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:29-31)

You may feel that your too late, the day is far spent. But lift up your head, for the Lord will "bless you and keep you. He will make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you He will lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)