Twice in Luke 1, the word "favor" is applied to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Clearly, she was favored by God. Even though Mary's favor with God was unearned and undeserved, we can see characteristics in Mary's life that enabled her to receive God's favor - that enabled her to live in the favor zone. And we can learn some lessons from her life as we seek to live in the fulness of God's favor.
1. Mary was servant-hearted.
"And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord…'" (Luke 1:38, ESV).
Servant. The word here is doule – the feminine form of doulos. Sometimes, the word is translated “slave.” The word is used to describe someone who gives himself or herself up to do God’s will. It means that Mary disregarded her own interests because she was devoted to God’s interests.
This reflects the lifestyle Jesus commends. "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all" (Mark 10:43-44, ESV).
Are you the servant of the Lord? Let’s be honest. Some of us – lots of us? – think God is there for us. He’s supposed to serve us, right? No. We are here to serve Him. He’s the Creator, Maker, Ruler.
Is your mindset, "I am a slave of God?" I don't need to be front and center. I will do the dirty little things nobody else wants to do. I will change diapers, cut grass, sweep floors, wash dishes. Behold, I am a servant of the Lord.
I am asking myself, "Am I truly servant-hearted?" It's servant-hearted people who are in the favor zone.
2. Mary was wholly available.
"And Mary said, '… let it be to me according to your word'" (Luke 1:38, ESV).
Mary heard, "You are going to be pregnant without a husband." She didn't say, "Hold on. Can we come up with another plan? I'm not a big fan of me being the topic of gossip. What you are asking is too hard. Find somebody else."
No. She said, "let it be to me according to your word. I am available. Even if it costs." She dared to move with God into the painful unknown. She was a "whatever, wherever, whenever" woman of faith.
Whatever God asks you to do, He has His good reasons. Wherever He asks you to go, He has His loving plan. Whenever He asks you to move, He has His divine resources. Will you trust Him?
One reason we are not wholly available is because we don't completely trust. Another reason we are not wholly available is because we’re distracted. We fill our lives with other people, other things and other pursuits and when Jesus coems knocking, we put up the "no vacancy" sign.
I am asking myself, "Am I wholly available?" It's wholly available people who are in the favor zone.
3. Mary was God-centered.
"And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…'" (Luke 1:46-47, ESV).
When you magnify something, You make it big. Mary is making little of herself and much of God. This isn't about her comfort, her peace, her affluence, her renown. This is about God! She is seeking to praise, worship, and glorify God. She wants to draw attention away from herself and give it to Him.
She's not self-centered. She is God-centered.
I am asking myself, " Am I God-centered?" It's God-centered people who are in the favor zone.
***
So, which area needs the most attention and the most growth in your life? To walk in God’s favor – to receive God’s favor – be servant-hearted, wholly available, and God-centered.
1. Mary was servant-hearted.
"And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord…'" (Luke 1:38, ESV).
Servant. The word here is doule – the feminine form of doulos. Sometimes, the word is translated “slave.” The word is used to describe someone who gives himself or herself up to do God’s will. It means that Mary disregarded her own interests because she was devoted to God’s interests.
This reflects the lifestyle Jesus commends. "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all" (Mark 10:43-44, ESV).
Are you the servant of the Lord? Let’s be honest. Some of us – lots of us? – think God is there for us. He’s supposed to serve us, right? No. We are here to serve Him. He’s the Creator, Maker, Ruler.
Is your mindset, "I am a slave of God?" I don't need to be front and center. I will do the dirty little things nobody else wants to do. I will change diapers, cut grass, sweep floors, wash dishes. Behold, I am a servant of the Lord.
I am asking myself, "Am I truly servant-hearted?" It's servant-hearted people who are in the favor zone.
2. Mary was wholly available.
"And Mary said, '… let it be to me according to your word'" (Luke 1:38, ESV).
Mary heard, "You are going to be pregnant without a husband." She didn't say, "Hold on. Can we come up with another plan? I'm not a big fan of me being the topic of gossip. What you are asking is too hard. Find somebody else."
No. She said, "let it be to me according to your word. I am available. Even if it costs." She dared to move with God into the painful unknown. She was a "whatever, wherever, whenever" woman of faith.
Whatever God asks you to do, He has His good reasons. Wherever He asks you to go, He has His loving plan. Whenever He asks you to move, He has His divine resources. Will you trust Him?
One reason we are not wholly available is because we don't completely trust. Another reason we are not wholly available is because we’re distracted. We fill our lives with other people, other things and other pursuits and when Jesus coems knocking, we put up the "no vacancy" sign.
I am asking myself, "Am I wholly available?" It's wholly available people who are in the favor zone.
3. Mary was God-centered.
"And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…'" (Luke 1:46-47, ESV).
When you magnify something, You make it big. Mary is making little of herself and much of God. This isn't about her comfort, her peace, her affluence, her renown. This is about God! She is seeking to praise, worship, and glorify God. She wants to draw attention away from herself and give it to Him.
She's not self-centered. She is God-centered.
I am asking myself, " Am I God-centered?" It's God-centered people who are in the favor zone.
***
So, which area needs the most attention and the most growth in your life? To walk in God’s favor – to receive God’s favor – be servant-hearted, wholly available, and God-centered.
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