Being Favored by God

 I was sitting in a coffee shop w/ a dear friend.  We were reading the account of Christ's birth from Luke.  There is was: the word "favored" twice.  It popped out at me, perhaps because, as a writer, I know a bit about the power of words, the choosing of words.  The repeating of a word is a way of highlighting whatever that thought might be.

Luke 1:28-30 Gabriel appeared to [Mary] and said, "Greetings, FAVORED woman! The Lord is with you!"  Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.  "Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found FAVOR with God!"

Wow!  Not only an angel came to her (which, by the way, would blow us all away!), he spoke to her.  He not only spoke to her but spoke AFFIRMATION to this young woman!  Again, Wow!

So, the musing came to me, 'How does one FIND favor with God?'

As with other musings, the Spirit kept me in HIS LIVING WORD for the response.

Elizabeth gives us the key. It's tucked away for us in Luke 1:45
"You [Mary] are blessed BECAUSE YOU BELIEVED THAT THE LORD WOULD DO WHAT HE SAID!"
There it is: Faith.

My, oh, my.

We're told in the Living Word of God that "without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God."
Not difficult, not hard, but IMPOSSIBLE.

So, putting those two thoughts together,  the one who is favored by God, the one who FINDS favor with God is the one who believes that the Lord will do what He says.

How are we doing?    Evidently faith among humans is a pretty rare commodity.  By definition it requires us to step out on to the INVISIBLE, NOT the NON-EXISTENT.... at first THEY LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME.....but one, faith, is strong and steady.

Take Mary.  She inquired 'how.' The angel replied.  She responded, "I am the LORD'S servant.  May EVERYTHING you have said about me come true."  No doubt. No detailing. No discussion.

Faith.....Follow.....Favor

May it be said of you, of me, that we, also, have found favor with God.  How? By believing what He says. Living, by faith, accordingly.  Being women and men, favored with God.


Ele