You have found favor with God • Deshen Daily

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God (Luke 1:30 ESV)

Mary the mother of Jesus picture nativity scene

Mary was an ordinary teenage girl minding her business when an unusual visitor approached her. The angel Gabriel was sent from God to tell Mary what had been decided in heaven already. As expected, she was afraid when she saw the angel, but Gabriel quickly spoke to her and said, “do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Gabriel was announcing to Mary that her name had been mentioned in high places in heaven!

What did Mary do to earn God’s choice as the mother of the Savior? Well, nothing! She did not even know her name was being called in heaven while going about her usual house chores. She was chosen, not because of something she did but because of God’s own choice. This is grace. However, it is important to note God’s choice was not random. It is not because it was grace that God could have gone to choose a woman from a neighboring country such as Tyre and Sidon. Mary was an Israelite, and she was also a virgin, sexually undefiled. Her sexual purity was not why she was chosen, but it did play a part in her being chosen. God could use anyone, such as Rahab, a prostitute in the OT, but He chose a virgin to be the biological mother of His holy Son.

You are saved by grace and not by works(of the law), but your works( good works) matter.

MEDITATE

What is the difference between “works of the law”( Gal. 2:16) and “good works” ( Eph. 2:10)?

APPLY THE WORD

You cannot earn salvation by trying to live holy, praying, giving, etc. This is the work of the law. However, once saved by His grace, it matters whether you live a holy life, pray, give, etc. This is good works. You have found favor with God. Abide and shine in that favor through your works!