Highly Favored

[This is the first in a series devotionals of exploring and learning from Mary's walk with God as written in the book of Luke. To see the entire series, click HERE ]

Luke 1:28 ~ The angel went to her (Mary) and said

"Greetings to you who are highly favored.  The Lord is with you."

Have you ever wondered why God chose Mary to carry His son?

Was she walking in her faith perfectly, without any sin?  Was that it? 
~No, scripture tells us 'for all have sinned and fall short'. 

So did she pray more; do more 'good' things?
Why is it God favored Mary and how can we also be favored?

If we look a little deeper at the Greek word used here for 'favor' we discover it is the work 'charitoo' and means "filled with grace".  Further study reveals that this word is used only once more in the New Testament-
Ephesians 6:1 To the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.  This tells us that believers in Christ are 'filled with grace'.  Not because we do good things, pray enough or walk a perfect walk.  We are 'filled with grace' by the blood of Christ.  God chose to favor us with the ultimate gift of life. 

So just like Mary, we (Christians) are highly favored.

And just like Mary, not only are we highly favored, the Lord is with us.

Matthew 1:23 ~ The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means 'God with us')

Mary was chosen to physically carry the son of God
to be born into the world

so we could have a way to salvation
and be highly favored / filled with grace.

~  ~  ~

We are chosen to carry the name of God
 into the world

so others can hear the way to salvation
 and be highly favored / filled with grace. 

Mary did what God called her to do.  The question we have to ask ourselves is are we doing what we have been called to do?  I love remembering the birth of Christ every December, but I love to remember the result of that birth more.  This is a wonderful time to reflect on how that result is being carried out in our lives. 

Prayer:
Thank you Lord that I am highly favored as a child of God.  I come before You during this season when thoughts are turned towards the birth of Your Son and ask that You make me mindful of more than the event, but of the result of that event.  Because You chose to send Your Son to earth in the form of a baby, I am able to live a life freed from sin.  I have done nothing to deserve this favor; I have not acted perfectly, prayed perfectly or even done good deeds to earn this favor.  I am filled with Your grace and You are with me because a child, Your only son, was born to live a life that would take Him to a cross where He would be the only perfect sacrifice that could bring me into fellowship with You.  Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!  Praise to God the Father.  I rejoice in the name of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel ~ God with us! Amen and Amen!



[NEXT: Luke 1:34-38 ~ A Servant's Response: I Don't Understand How This Can Be, But May It Be As You Have Said]

 God Bless and Keep You,