He Favors Me

Mary and the angel Gabriel again. Really?

 “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said…” (Luke 1:26-28).

For some of us who have grown up going to church, we can almost recite the passage that is read and taught nearly every Christmas Eve. The very passage we read and study this week. But before we tune out the story, let’s make sure we have heard the good stuff. What did the angel Gabriel say? Did Mary know he was coming? How did this teenage girl respond? How would you have felt, if it were you?

Here’s the greeting Gabriel gives a girl who had no clue he was coming. 

“Greetings, you who are highly favored” (Luke 1:28).

Okay, pause. Let’s picture this greeting with some fresh eyes.

 Hey girl. I know you think you’re nobody. Certainly it’s how teenagers are treated in your day and maybe some teens today would argue it’s how things still go. But guess what? I come from Heaven. From sitting in the throne of God. Like I’m his right hand man. My name is Gabriel and I know your name. You are Mary. And I bet you may have never imagined you are highly favored by God, himself (end paraphrase of Luke 1:28).

Now some might think Mary was favored because of something she did or how she lived. Maybe she was favored because she read her bible or served the poor. Maybe she was just a great kid that honored her parents or followed the Ten Commandments. But actually, she wasn’t favored for who she was or how she lived. She was favored because she was chosen by the grace of God. 

Have you ever felt favored by God? Maybe? Maybe not?

Whether you feel favored or not, the reality is you are because you sit in a knowledge of the Holy One. With your eyes being opened to him and his work in your life. No matter how long you have been in relationship with him or how new it may be. You are chosen. You are favored. God is revealing himself, his truth, his love and his power to you. And you are getting to see him for who he is and how he feels about you.

Let that sink in… 

He favors you. He favors me. The Creator of the world. The Maker of humanity. The Author of the Scriptures. The King of the universe. The one who knows the very number of hairs on your head and who collects your tears in a bottle (Matthew 10:30; Psalm 56:8).

He favors you. God favors you. 

If you’re not sure how to respond, it’s okay. You aren’t alone. We are going to let this reality sink in this week. To help us, let’s look at Mary’s response in our passage. 

“Mary responded, ‘Oh how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me’” (Luke 1:46-49).

Mary immediately knew her life had changed. That God had taken notice of a “nobody” and now everyone, for all time, would know her name. She knew God favored her. 

My hope and prayer is that we would know that too. Insert your name in the blank and let this reality start taking root.

__________________ is favored by God.

REFLECT

• Biblical “favor” in this passage refers to being pursued with grace and honored with blessing. Have you ever thought of yourself as favored by God? If so, describe. If not, share why not. 

• What are obstacles that get in the way of you feeling favored by God?

• What stands out to you about Mary’s response to the request of God - to be the mother of the Savior of the World?