Highly Favored One

And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”  But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 

Luke 1:28-30

John 1:12 says, “To all who believe, He has given the right to be called children of God.”

As a child of God, do you know that you are highly favored by Him?

As a child of God, do you know that you have found favor in His sight?

As a child of God, do you know that you have no need to fear?

Just like Mary in her day, we have wonderful privileges as children of God, because of the wonderful grace of our Lord and Savior.

The story of Noah is a beautiful story of God’s grace and favor on one man.  Genesis 6:8 tells us that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. It is easy to read this verse in the passive voice and assume that the Lord favored Noah over other men. But, if you read it in the active voice, it would suggest that Noah was searching for God’s grace, and He found it. In other words, God’s grace is there for anyone who chooses to look for it and to accept it, as Noah did.

In the same way, the words of the angel to Mary were meant to encourage her and to give her a hope. She too had found favor with God. Her active pursuit of the Lord led her to discover His great favor toward her.

Today, these same words can encourage us. When we begin to see ourselves through the eyes of the Lord, we begin to feel the love He has for us, and life takes on a whole new meaning. When we actively seek His favor, we will find it. It is there, just waiting for us.

Mary was no different from us, in that she was a sinner who needed the grace of God. God saw her and loved her, and He called her to be a part of His great plan for mankind. So too the Lord sees us, and He calls us to be a part of this great plan by believing in Him and the work of His Son, Jesus.

Mary was the start, giving birth to the Savior. We are another piece in the entire plan, showing people the way to Him through a life dedicated to Him.

If we are willing to say yes to the Lord, He can do great things through us. If we are willing to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, if we are willing to accept His plan for our life and to say to Him, “Be it unto me according to your word,” we, like Mary, will experience a changed life that will further the kingdom of God. If we are active in our pursuit of Him, finding His grace and mercy, He will give it to us.

We will be known as someone who found favor in the eyes of our Lord.

We will be known as a highly favored one.