Favoured by Grace

God's favour is not explained by human importance. Mary was not introduced as powerful, wealthy, famous, or influential. She was a young woman in Nazareth, and yet the angel greets her in LUKE 1:28 (ESV) with the words, "O favored one, the Lord is with you!" That greeting troubled her, and rightly so. She did not treat the word lightly. She tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. Grace is wonderful, but it is also weighty. The favour of God is not a decoration for our pride. It is His free initiative, His choosing mercy, His holy purpose.

The announcement given to Mary is about Christ. She will bear a son, and His name will be Jesus. He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The throne of David and the kingdom without end are brought into view. Mary is favoured, but Jesus is central. That must stay clear. The story is not ultimately about Mary being impressive. It is about God bringing His promise to fulfilment through the birth of His Son. Mary receives grace and is drawn into obedience, but the glory belongs to the Lord. This protects us from misunderstanding favour. God's favour does not always make life simpler. For Mary, favour brought wonder, but also misunderstanding, cost, surrender, and a path she could not fully see. Favour does not mean a life without difficulty. It means God is with you and His purpose is greater than your ability to control it.

EPHESIANS 1:6 (ESV) speaks of the grace with which God has blessed believers in the Beloved. In Christ, the people of God are not accepted because they have made themselves worthy. They are received by grace. That should humble us. If God calls you into something beyond your strength, do not confuse weakness with disqualification. His grace is not drawn to human status. His power is not limited by ordinary places. The Lord was with Mary. And when the Lord is with His servant, obedience becomes possible even when understanding is not complete.