S130P3 – The flavors of God’s favor: a miraculous calling

Lk. 1:26‭-‬28

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  The virgin’s name was Mary.  And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

Her missionary story was unlike any I had heard before then.  She was not some ministry superstar, not a famous evangelist.  Although there was nothing noteworthy about her, she somehow found herself in a foreign land charged with reaching a very lost people with the Gospel.  The atmosphere was so contentious that she required armed protection during this trip.  She would come to learn that a prior generation had entered into a blood covenant with that land, a land that had stopped producing the food they needed and had caused great poverty.  She knew in an instant that a new covenant through the blood of Christ was the only answer, and she would be the one to lead them in establishing that.

The scriptures show us many examples of God’s servants fulfilling work and occupying positions well beyond them, but doing so successfully.  It is a book full of nobodies who somehow found themselves being somebody we discuss thousands of years later because of their miraculous contributions to the history of our faith.  That is nothing more than the favor of God.   The scriptures do not tell us exactly what made God choose Mary for this miraculous calling instead of any other obedient and faithful Jewish girl from the correct lineage, but God’s favor over her is clearly noted.  No other woman would get to do what God ordained for her to do.  Only one for all time would receive this miraculous calling.

God’s favor can show up in our lives in very small ways, but we cannot forget that it also can show up in incredible ways that we cannot foresee or think to request.  We might feel too small to ask Him for this kind of favor.  Maybe we think that we do not merit it, that the miraculous callings are for others.  I challenge us to chase the biggest and greatest favor God has for his children.  I challenge us to seek the unbelievable tasks He has for someone to complete.  There is no reason why you or I should not make ourselves available to be used in such mighty ways.  Father, pour your highest favor on us, and call us to the miraculous tasks we never could imagine getting the chance to complete for You.