Daily Devotional

-December 14, 2020-

Good morning, happy Monday,

-Highly Favored, Fully Blessed-

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’”

(Luke 1:26-28).

The gospel of Luke contains more detail on the birth of Christ than the other three gospels. Today’s verses reflect the encounter and conversation between the angel Gabriel and the virgin Mary. Mary was a young girl, likely a teenager, from the city of Nazareth. She was to be the mother of the Messiah. According to Luke 1:35, Gabriel told her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Mary was troubled or fearful of the angel’s presence and words. The angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30). There was no doubt that the baby to be born would be the Messiah. She must have felt so overwhelmed and unworthy. In Luke 1:28, the angel tells her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.”

• Highly favored one – Mary found favor with God. God chose her to be the mother of Jesus. This is all by the grace of God. She was not only favored but highly favored or honored in the eyes of God. Was she better than the other girls of her day? No, but God saw her heart and knew she would be obedient and carry out the mission of mothering the Messiah.

• The Lord is with you – Mary could do nothing without the Lord and His help. She was assured of the Lord’s presence and power in her life. Her reaction to the entirety of the angel’s message is found in Luke 1:38, “Then Mary said, ‘Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word…” She did not question it, argue about it, or refuse it. God gave her the grace each step of the way.

• Blessed are you among women – She was truly blessed among women. She was chosen among many for this awesome responsibility and privilege. Other notable examples in Scripture of those found who found favor: Ruth found favor in the eyes of Boaz; Esther found favor in the eyes of King Ahasuerus; Joshua, the successor of Moses found favor with God.

The application to our lives is clear. God has favored us, showered with His grace, is with us, and has richly blessed us. Who are we to be saved? We are so unworthy and undeserving of His blessings. We can truly say that we too are highly favored and fully blessed. We like Mary should be willing to do God’s will fully and to serve Him daily, for He is worthy!

Have a blessed day serving the greatest Master, Lord, Savior, and King. Merry Christmas. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean