Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Favor with God

Mary must have had a great love for God's Word and a great respect for God's work. She was looking for Messiah to come and deliver the Jews from the Romans as much as any other Jew.

I'm sure God's reasons for selecting her to carry His Son were many, but the one the angel gave her was that she found favor with God.

Was it that she was pure and loved the Most High God with all her heart, soul and mind? Was she astute, wise beyond her young years, always looking for God's presence in life around her? I expect she hungered for righteousness and regularly found God's filling.

When Gabriel informed her of the holy pregnancy and gave instructions in naming the Son of the Most High, Mary wondered at the impossibility of the assignment. Gabriel proceeded to give her some general information then reminded her that "Nothing is impossible with God."

She would have known about the impossible crossing of the Red Sea on dry land; God's provision of manna in the desert; the commandments that sprung out of God's covenant love for His people. She knew the Lord was capable of pulling off the impossible and often did so using humans who obeyed God's instructions.

So, beyond the first greeting, after which Gabriel told her not to be afraid, there is no hint that Mary started worrying. Though she was young, I'm sure she was no fool. She trusted God to take care of the details. She would have been well aware that this role would be demanding, that the village gossips would have a heyday with her growing belly. She didn't know yet about the sword that would pierce her side, and the horror God's Son would face, but God chose her because she would trust Him implicitly.

What she did know was she had found favor with God and she wanted to give everything she had to do His will.

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." (See Luke 1:38, NIV.)


For Your Consideration:

What might give you favor with God?

What does the Most High treasure about your availability?

Can you wholeheartedly say, I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said?

May we enjoy the blessings of walking in full surrender to the Lord's will for our lives this Christmas and in the coming year.