Devotional 3/14/20
“When Mary Found Favor”
by Dona Hake
“Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, the angel said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly perplexed at what he said, and kept carefully considering what kind of greeting this was. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Listen carefully: you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and eminent and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin and have no intimacy with any man?” Then the angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a cloud]; for that reason the holy (pure, sinless) Child shall be called the Son of God. And listen, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible.” Then Mary said, “ Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.”
Luke 1:26-38 – Amplified Version
Today is our last day looking at the words ~find and found~. The Angel Gabriel found Mary for this was his assignment from God… Mary found favor, and her reaction…she was perplexed. This poor young girl was bewildered and puzzled but the Angel Gabriel calmed and prepared her heart to hear more as he spoke these words… “Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God.“
Luke 1:26-38 – Amplified Version
Today is our last day looking at the words ~find and found~. The Angel Gabriel found Mary for this was his assignment from God… Mary found favor, and her reaction…she was perplexed. This poor young girl was bewildered and puzzled but the Angel Gabriel calmed and prepared her heart to hear more as he spoke these words… “Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God.“
I can only imagine how blindsided Mary was by this divine visitation. Of course Mary had questions… I know I would have if I were in Mary shoes! When Mary heard the angel say “With God nothing shall be impossible.“ She responded “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord: may it be done according to your word.” Let us ponder this beautiful story, and think about times that the Lord has called upon us to do something outside of possibilities and our comfort zone. He desires to use all of us for special purposes in our lives!
Today let us walk with expectation of surprises from God. You just never know how He may call upon you with a special assignment. As you purpose to follow God I encourage you to find His will, walk in His peace, draw upon His grace and remember that with God nothing shall be impossible!