Luke 1:30-31
And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus."
Favor with God. I love this. Mary was not famous (before this story). She was not highly educated. She didn't have a platform, a book deal, or large numbers of social media followers. Mary was a pre-teen (or a young teen at most). Yet, she had found favor with God.
A great definition of "favor with God" is a demonstrated delight. God delighted in Mary ... so much so that He chose her to change history. When I read Luke's account of this - the beginning of the Christmas story - I wonder, why Mary?
My guess is just that, a guess. I bet Mary found delight in God almost as much as God delighted in her. Perhaps Mary was obedient in the little things so that God trusted her to be obedient in the biggest thing of all. Or, maybe for some reason, Mary was feeling she was at rock bottom, and she discovered that trusting in God's plan was the only course of action that would redeem her circumstances. I may never know, at least on this side of Heaven. But, I do know that it doesn't take what we have, what we do, who we think we are, or where we came from to please God. It doesn't take fame, fortune, or power to be used mightily in God's grand plan.
Maybe, just maybe, it's simply grace.
Father God, thank You for including Mary in the most important story in history. Thank You for showing us through her devotion to You that we don't have to be or do something special. We can change history as long as we say yes to You and refrain from living in fear. You are mighty and worthy of all our praise and obedience. I pray we delight in You as Mary did. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen.
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