Surrounded With His Favor!

"Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield" (Psalm 5:12 NIV)
The fact that being in right-standing with God puts one in position to be a recipient of His favor should not surprise or amaze anyone. Everyone wants to walk in His favor, but how many are willing to do what is right in order to be in right-standing with God? The amazing fact is that so many either do not have a clue as to what it means to be in right-standing with God or they do not care and refuse to do what is right.
Let's face it--there are a lot of people who believe they are in right-standing with God because of their own "self-righteousness." These are the people who take it upon themselves to judge (unjustly) everyone else who is not living according to their standards. For some reason, they feel they have the right to set standards for others when in fact--their own relationship with God is non-existent--they have a relationship with religion, not with God. The real problem is--they do not know the difference.
When people are in right-standing with God and have an established, maintained relationship with God--not only do they know and understand The Word--they live it. They are loving, forgiving, full of mercy and compassion and yet they tell people the Truth about God's Word without condemning them. When people only know how to spew The Word at others because of what "they see" they are extremely judgmental and quick to send people to hell, without realizing the danger which they put themselves of ending up there.
Not one of us walking on the face of the earth can "send anyone to hell." If a person ends up in hell it is because of their choices, not our decisions. If those "hell-senders" really had a relationship with God and not religion, they would know that God doesn't intend for anyone to be in hell other than Satan, but the provision was made for those who "choose" to follow Satan.
Okay--so there are consequences for our behavior--that determine where we spend eternity--heaven or hell. While I cannot speak for others, I can say with assurance that I am heaven-bound; not because of any righteousness that I have attained, but because of my relationship with God and being in right-standing with Him. I have received His love, know how to give love and to love all, forgive, have mercy and compassion for others and can and do teach the uncompromised Word of Truth. Whether people receive The Word of Truth is up to them--it is my responsibility to teach it, not to make others receive it and live it. That is being in right-standing with God.
Therefore, I am surrounded with His favor because of my willingness to be in right-standing with Him. Glory to God! I pray all get into the position to know--with assurance--what their standing is with God.
Getting into The Word for yourself puts you into good position to know and receive all God has for you!