“Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation” (Psalms 106:4).

One way God blesses His people is through favor. God brings His people into favor with people who have the resources to bless them.

Joseph was a great example of this. First he found favor with Potiphar who was a captain of the guard, an officer of Pharaoh. Potiphar “left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he ate. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.” (Genesis 39:6).

We all know what happened next in the story. Potiphar’s wife told lies on Joseph and he was thrown into prison. Yet, God still continued to bless him through favor: “But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison” (Genesis 39:21). Then the narrative continues telling us to what extent that Joseph found favor. “And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it” (Genesis 39:22).

Next, because of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams, God allowed him to have favor with Pharaoh. “And Pharaoh said unto his servants, can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou” (Genesis 41:37 and 40).

We are not unlike Joseph for God has blessed us many times by bringing us into favor with people who had the means to bless us. And I’m sure He will continue to do so because it is a method He has always used to bless His children.

Another way God blesses His children is by visiting them. “O visit me with thy salvation.” The Bible records many instances where God visited people. He visited Sarah. He visited the Children of Israel many times. He visited Hannah, and the psalmist said that God visited him in the night. What a blessing it is to think that God visits us. But our verse says that when he visits us He brings salvation. Salvation does not always refer to saving of the soul; it means that God comes to save us from life’s difficulties.

A little girl looks out the window and proclaims, “Mom, here comes Jesus.” The mom asks, “Is He coming with a lifeboat? The storm is fierce.” “No, Mom, He doesn’t have a lifeboat. “Does He have some money? We sure could use some money.” “No, Mom, He doesn’t have any money.” Well you get the point.

After God visited and brought the Israelites out of Egyptian captivity they sang God a song. Here is a part of it: “The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation.”

The song resounds “he is become my salvation.” You see Jesus doesn’t need to bring anything with Him because He alone is our salvation. He can handle any issues in our lives.

Finally, look at the following lyric: “I will prepare him a habitation.” Do you want blessings in your lives? Then when Jesus comes to visit make him a habitation. Don’t let him leave, but welcome Him to live with you and continually be your uninterrupted salvation.

I’m glad that God blesses through giving us favor and also by visiting us with salvation.

 

James Kearns is pastor of Bald Knob Church at Kitts Hill.