Embrace His Virgin Birth
Highly Favored
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:29-33
Key Verse: Luke 1:28
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary and started his announcement with: You are highly favored. The Greek word chosen here is “charitoo.” Its literal meaning is to make graceful—charming, lovely…to peruse with grace. The word grace simply means unmerited favor. Mary had not earned this favor; she was chosen by God. This event is all about God, not Mary. It saddens me when I see people elevate Mary higher than biblically appropriate.
The selection of Mary is a picture of our own salvation. Our salvation is all about God, not us. We can’t do anything to earn God’s favor. The Prophet Isaiah reminds us that our best efforts are like filthy rags compared to God’s righteousness (Isaiah 64:6). Our salvation started in the heart of God when He sent Gabriel to Daniel 500 years before Jesus’ coming. God made good on His plan in the pregnancy of a virgin. We really can’t take credit for our own desire to believe. Jesus said, “…no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him” (John 6:65). The only thing we do, if we want to be saved, is say yes to the offer made to us, deciding by faith to accept the grace bestowed on us.
Mary was highly favored; so are we who are Christ followers. God extended grace to us!
Father, I bless you for your favor extended to me. I am undeserving yet very grateful. I receive it in Jesus’ name, amen.