Favor With God
Luke 1:28 – The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 – But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. 30 – So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God!…”
Would you like to have the assurance of finding favor with God? I would, but if we pray the prayer to find favor with God, do we really know what we are asking for? In addition to having assurance that we are right with God – we are literally asking for trouble.
What kind of trouble followed the angel Gabriel’s visit? Joseph wanted to break up with Mary before the angel had a talk with him. Mary discovered she was pregnant – the angel did say the Holy Spirit would make this happen. Mary had to travel while in late stages of pregnancy. No vacancy in the inn. Settling in a stable for the delivery. Rushing off to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill her child. The list goes on if you continue following the life of Christ all the way to His crucifixion – Mary was there for that day as well when Simeon’s word came true about a sword piercing her soul (Luke 2:35).
Finding favor with God doesn’t guarantee an easy life. It guarantees a life filled with trouble accompanied with the unspeakable joy of knowing God whom to know is life eternal (John 17:3). In the words of Jesus: I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage – I have conquered the world.” – John 16:33.
Where two are gathered 