Circling Around Christmas
Christmas is awash with favor. Mary twice received this compliment from Gabriel, and barren Elizabeth bore John the Baptist - a divine favor.
Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign, behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and call His name Immanuel."
Luke 1:28 "Greetings to you who are highly favored."
Christmas is a living out of prophecy, but is all 'favor' as we think?
Just consider young Mary's lot:
- pregnant out of wedlock
- heavily pregnant travelling to Bethlehem
- fleeing to Egypt with an infant
- seeing her son nailed to the cross
- witnessing His death, and so much more.
Doesn't really sound like favor, does it? Favor = blessing/ approval - doesn't seem to quite fit either elderly Elizabeth or young Mary?
Remember Elizabeth in Luke 1:25 as she reflected upon the first five months of pregnancy ... the Lord has done this for me ... in these days He has shown His favor and taken my disgrace. But also consider her son John the Baptist:
- born in her old age
- he lived in the desert
- abject poverty, and
- decapitated by wickedness at 30.
Favor is not always favor apparently. But, John got 'an early mark' (see Isaiah 57:1).
Mary saw her Son resurrected, and both righteous moms received honor from God and man. They now await the time of being ushered into heaven's Throne Room.
The Last Word:
Divine favor to my mind begins where earth's favor tapers off.
ENJOY too - Recognizing Heaven's Signature