Over the next few days till Christmas I would like you to take a journey with me in anticipation. Let's daily look at the events leading up to the birth of Christ with a sense of anticipation of His arrival into this world and into our lives. (Inspired by the Book "The Miraculous Journey" by Marty A. Bullis).
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:26-28 ESV)
The word "favor" is often used as a word in flux or as a time sensitive word - like "that's in my favor now." It is here now but could be gone tomorrow. The word of God uses it more in regards to eternality and God time. When the angel of The Lord spoke to Mary and said, "Greetings, O favored one, The Lord is with you" - she was fearful not understanding the weight of that word spoken to her.
As humans, we live with the burden of having a corrupted language and it is not always easy to convey our meaning and thoughts. We employ words harshly. We hear humanity speaking to us with degraded slang. God-speak has turned to babble. Evil is on our ears and lips more than we know.
But then a word of God breaks upon us and we tremble. It thoroughly shakes us. These types of words need to be illuminated and revealed to us before disbelief sets in. But surely, and oftentimes slowly, the Holy Spirit puts wings to the God-speak words and they turn into faith and promise that carry into whatever path laid out before us. The spiritual wax falls out of our ears and our faith begins to soar. And like Mary we say,"Let it be according to your words." A message is birthed within our heart as we await the advent coming our way.
Hopefully, over time, we begin to train our hears to listen to God-speak. We should train our mouths to speak these syllables - "God has a plan for you and it is good."
Mary became pregnant with God in her. It is what needs to happen to each of us - that... we become pregnant with God in us. The faith and promise that God wants to birth within us a faith to meet any of our situations before us.
In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (John 14:20 ESV)
We are pregnant with God. He is in us. We have favor from God!
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (Luke 1:30 ESV)
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