The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.“ – Luke 1:30-31
What a marvelous thing to be handpicked by God to be the mother of Jesus. So marvelous that some esteem Mary above all people who ever walked the earth, second only to her son Jesus. Finding favor with God has greater value than any other honor that is available to humankind today. It is more valuable than the adulation bestowed on political leaders, entertainment stars, or sports professionals by the general public.
Grace is found in Christ alone. Grace is often defined as unmerited favor. God extended His favor to His people through Jesus. As He did with Mary, the Lord knows your name. Just as the angel told Mary, “Do not be afraid,” God says the same to His people today. In her “song of praise,” known as the Magnificat, Mary said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant” (Luke 1:47-48).
As Mary said, God is mindful of the humble state of His servants, including you. He knows the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7). His ears are attentive to your prayers (1 Peter 3:12). He knows your name, has a plan for you, and favors you in Christ. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). What a marvelous thing to be handpicked by God!
Pray that each believer’s soul would glorify and rejoice in God. Ask the Lord to open the eyes of the citizens and government officials of the United States to His loving favor through Christ.
Today’s Verse: Luke 1:30-31
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Luke 1:46-55
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
