Have you ever had one of those "Oh my God! I can't believe this is happening!" moments?
Imagine being a Jewish teenage girl (kind of difficult for us guys with a beard, I know) at the turn of the 1st century and hearing the voice of an angelic being, "Greetings, favored one!"
And as I scanned the rest of the story, here is what I saw unfolding from the most unbelievable news in the world.
Finding favor routinely asks, "Who, me?"
"She tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be" (Luke 1:29). We live in a 'cause and effect' world full of if-then conditions for our life. And Mary was a simple, ordinary Jewish girl. No name or resume really to brag about. No wonder she was looking around to see where the voice was coming from, why she had become the target of a heavenly calling. Yet God is routinely using the ordinary to bring about the extraordinary for all the world to see.
Finding favor may result in unfavorable circumstances.
"You will conceive and bear a son...How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:31,34). Many onlookers in the 21st century have romanticized Mary's situation, as if to say, "How lucky was she?" Really? A Jewish girl engaged to be married, now pregnant, in a law-driven world where she's destined to be criticized and shunned by friends, family, and perhaps even her future husband. Yet God is taking what appears to be unfavorable among men for the purpose of displaying His glory.
Finding favor resigns itself to the new normal.
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" (Luke 1:31). Sometimes, whether you asked for it or not, you are handed what will become your new normal. You can't change or manipulate the situation. You must simply adjust your perspective to what now is. God is taking what was dead and creating life, what was once dark and now bringing to light, as in this case, through the presence of a newborn child.
Finding favor relies on faith in God's promise.
"For nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). Being asked to carry out such a task as bearing the Son of God can be, no doubt, pretty daunting. Scary. Fearful. After all, the angel did say, "Do not be afraid." And the only way that any of us can ever sustain this life God has called us to is by resting in the promises of God.
Finding favor rejoices in growing obedience.
"I am the servant of the Lord, let it be done according to your word" (Luke 1:38). God is sovereign and has set in motion a plan for all of our lives. God has also given us a choice, free will, to accept or reject the display of His grand story. And the confirmation of God's favor in our lives rests in our willingness to receive and respond in faith to this favor that God has pronounced over us.
But here's the real twist to the story; it was never really about Mary. And it's not about us! God's plan of redemption was to send His son to earth. Mary was the instrument by which God would accomplish His purpose. Ordinary, simple, Jewish teenager, Mary.
Lest we slip back into our old way of thinking that God's favor is still somehow attached to our name, talent, or entitled mind, let me remind us all again, it's not. Finding favor is grace; a free and undeserving gift! Grace in the form of Immanuel, God with us. God is finding favor on all the world. He is simply asking who is willing to conceive, in faith, the precious gift of His Son!
