This week’s Friday post is from Christine Caine’s devotional, Unshakeable…
“But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ”
When God chose young- and betrothed- Mary to carry, birth, and raise Jesus Christ, the Son of God, it was the greatest honor for any woman in history. But it was hardly an easy assignment. It was, however, incredibly filled with purpose that required His divine favor.
The future didn’t look easy for Mary. She would have to tell her fiancé, family, and friends about her conversation with Gabriel, and she- unlike us- did not know how the story would end. I’m sure that, after the angel left, Mary anxiously wondered if Joseph would leave her, if her family would ostracize her, or if her friends would ridicule her. How could anyone believe her story? It could have cost her everything she knew. Yet she still said yes to the will and purpose of God.
We all want God’s favor- but it’s much more than everything going our way. To live in the true favor of God, we must be willing to accept His divine assignments and all their ramifications. We must embrace the responsibility, cost, and commitment favor requires. We must be willing to fulfill the purpose of the favor.