I Am Favored Of the Lord

By Rev. Craig A. Brown

Luke 1:28-31 reads as follows, “And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.  But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.  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 name Him Jesus.” (NAS)

Mary was a simple girl that came from a poor family.  She had no pedigree or ancestral significance that warranted the attention of the upper class of that day.  The salutation and proclamation she received from the angel Gabriel troubled her greatly.    

English raconteur T. H. White recalls in the “Book of Merlyn” a boyhood experience: "My father made me a wooden castle big enough to get into, and he fixed real pistol barrels beneath its battlements to fire a salute on my birthday, but made me sit in front the first knight to receive the salute, and I, believing I was to be shot, cried."  How many times have we, too, misinterpreted the ambiguity of life and thought ourselves to be "shot" when delight was intended?

When you consider his tremendous majesty, the perfections of his nature in particular his power, purity and holiness; the law of God that your sins are in violation of, it becomes indeed a challenge to think that the Lord desires to do something wonderful in your life.  Thoughts of the wrath of God run uncontrollably though your mind like a vehement stream of water.    

Allow your soul to flee from distractions, guilt, sorrowful thoughts, conflicts and the cares of this world.  Fly to the delight and comfort of your soul which is the presence of God.  He has promised exceedingly great and precious promises.  You have eternal love, covenant promises, and an inexhaustible ocean of forgiveness.  You have the Holy Spirit who opens the eyes of your understanding, sheds abroad the love of God in your heart and comforts your weary soul.