You Have Found Favor

You Have Found Favor

You have found favor. In a sleepy little town up in hills of Nazareth a young woman was going about her daily tasks when the angel Gabriel appeared to her. What would your reaction be? Mary is noticeably startled and afraid. On top of that, he called her “favored one.” Why would he say that? She didn’t think she deserved that but she had found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Luke 1:26-32

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 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. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

Worthy of Honor

Much has been made over Mary. Some have elevated her to the level of a god, others have tried to diminish her role completely. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, called he the Mother of my Lord. (Luke 1:43) That alone makes her worthy of honor. Whatever position you come from God looked down on her, and she found favor in his eyes. We aren’t told why she found this favor. This shows us that God can bestow his favor on whomever he chooses. God knew she would be a willing participant in bringing his son to the earth as an infant.

A Willing Vessel

God is looking for those who are open to being used by him. There was nothing special about mary. In fact, she came from Nazareth, who were the hillbillies of Israel. They talked with a funny accent. It was Mary’s humility that made her a willing vessel. God often takes those who are least likely to succeed and uses them to accomplish miraculous things. You have found favor.