“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words, and wondered what kind of greeting that might be.
But the angle said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.
You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus..”
Luke 1:30-32
There is so much amazingness going on in this paragraph, isn’t there?!
So many surprises…
So much beauty…
So much love…
Mary was told she was favored…
That the Lord was with her…
That must have taken her breath away…
yet…. as she was processing the moment, fear seemed to be grip her heart…
“Mary was greatly troubled at his words, and wondered what kind of greeting that might be.
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.”
How truly beautiful…
How truly comforting…
I have often struggled with the word “favor“
I’ve been afraid to accept it into my life for fear of pride, or self righteousness…but, What I see in Mary’s answer highlights a different motive…
Love…
Her deep love, and respect for the Lord…
God’s favor to Mary was for His glory…
By her accepting and humbling herself, God was able to use Mary’s life for His utmost and highest purpose…
She had only one question…
She asked the angel,
“How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
Luke 1:34
And the angel explained…
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most high will overshadow you.
So the Holy one born will be called the son of God.
Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.”
“For noting is impossible with God.”
Luke 1:35-37
The day you and I accepted Jesus into our hearts…
The day we cried out to our Savior for forgiveness for our sins, and the guilt of our deepest pain…
The day we humbled ourselves in the presence of God Almighty, and kneeled before the king…
That was the day He overshadowed us with His presence…
The day He entered our hearts…
The day He showed us favor.
Dear Heavenly Father,
How could this be?
How could such love come to me?
I will never forget the warmth of Your touch, and the calmness of Your presence filling my soul…
I could feel Your love filling me to overflowing… tears running down my face as I felt Your sweet embrace…
So much love…
So much grace…
How I pray, Dear Lord, that we would accept Your favor…
Humbly, passionately, and with great expectation…
May we repeat unto You the same response Mary had…
” I am the Lord’s servant” Mary said, “May it be to me as You have said…”
Luke 1:38
Keeping my eyes on You, Oh Lord….
In Jesus Name,
I pray,
Amen
Live in Love,
Lisa