Scripture tells us how faith results in favor. Mary was a faithful believer before the angel Gabriel visited her, but the angel’s visit would put her faith to the test. Gabriel said, Luke 1:28 “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!…” You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God.[1]
This was a confusing message. Luke 1: 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel then told Mary she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit, and her child would be called the Son of God. Luke 1:38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. [2] The Lord favored Mary because of her faith and willingness to accept His message.
God’s Favor Does Not Mean Life Will Be Easy
Mary was the only person in human history pregnant by the Holy Spirit. She had God’s favor, but would her parents understand? In the early part of her pregnancy, she traveled fifty to seventy miles to see her cousin Elizabeth. As she enters the door, the Holy Spirit gives insight to Elizabeth for Mary. Luke 1:45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.[3]
Mary is blessed and has God’s favor, but in that culture, trying to explain being pregnant and not married would have been shameful. Mary would remain faithful throughout her life, but it would not be easy. For us as believers, being faithful is not easy either, but in doing so, we experience God’s favor.
The Righteous Have God’s Favor
When we remember favor follows faithfulness, it is a truth that can radically change our lives. God knows what is happening in our lives and is constantly testing us to transform our lives. Psalm 5:12 For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. [4] There is a daily battle as we attempt to live righteously. It takes an ongoing relationship with God; we must tend to this life like a garden.
Jesus gives us insight into our daily relationship with Him. Luke 9:23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.[5]
Is the Lord calling you today to pick up your cross? Doing so often means sacrificing our desires for the Lord’s plan for our life. We have God’s favor as believers, but something about faithfully following Jesus transforms us into a different person.
To learn how faith results in favor, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/god-speaks-in-worship
[1-3,5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
[4] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Ps 5:12). (1984). Zondervan.