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. Time is short, and grace abounds in order to reach a lost people, to make a deeper and lasting impact, and to change the trajectory of lives. What you desire will cost you, but it will not cost what it has cost 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 laborers to work in his vineyard. Throughout the day, every three hours, he goes back to the marketplace and hires more workers whom he sees standing idle.

Near the end of the day, he sees even more men standing in the marketplace and asks why they haven’t worked. They reply, “Because no one has hired us.” They were willing, but opportunity had not yet come.

The vineyard owner hires them, and at the end of the day he instructs his steward to pay all the workers—beginning with the ones hired last. Amazingly, those who worked only a short time received the same wage as those who had labored all day.

Many of us would probably react much like the workers who were hired first. We might think the owner was “unfair” for paying the same wages for less time worked. But, like the vineyard owner, everything belongs to God, and He may do as He wills. Though it may sometimes seem that God is “unfair,” we know He is righteous.

I believe we are nearing the end of our time on this earth. Night is fast approaching, and we can only work while it is day. Therefore, in order to accomplish the “expected end,” God is choosing those upon whom He will pour His favor. Many have been called in the past, but we are a chosen generation.

Whatever you have desired to do, become, or bring forth, God is opening the heavens to release favor upon this last generation, just as He did upon the first—even though we have not paid the same price.

Jump through the window of opportunity and receive God’s favor upon your life!

We will still face persecutions as 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 or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time . . . with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

— Mark 10:29–31

You may feel that you are too late and that 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.

“The Lord bless you and keep you;The Lord make His face shine upon you,And be gracious to you;The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,And give you peace.”

— Numbers 6:24–26