Taking a break from the Psalms, I want to consider some practical thoughts from Luke chapter 1. This week we will meditate on Gabriel’s Revelation. Next, we’ll enjoy Mary’s Exclamation, and the week following we’ll consider Zachariah’s Appreciation.

Devotional Reading: Luke 1 v 26-37

1. Gabriel’s Revelation – Part A

Enjoying God’s Grace

And the angel came in unto her, and said, ‘Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women’. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, ‘Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God‘.

verses 28-30

Central to this story of incarnation – the Son of God become flesh – are the appearances of the angel Gabriel with direct revelation from God the Father. This in itself is a wonderful token of God’s grace to mankind, and in particular, to Joseph (read Matthew ch.1) and here to Mary. It is therefore no wonder that in these introductory statements quoted above, favour (grace) is emphasised.

My postings on the Psalms have been quite in-depth, I know, but I want to keep these devotional thoughts simple and to the point. I just want you to notice that in these two references to grace, the LORD through Gabriel wants us to see that the enjoyment of grace is a two way process: from God to us (grace is shown), and from us to God (grace is found).

In the first of these, Gabriel declares that Mary is ‘highly favoured’. The idea is that God had reached out to Mary; pursued her with grace; honoured her with the tremendous blessing of bearing the Holy One. It is easy to think that Mary was in some ways unique – that she deserved this honour in some way – but we must be careful! Yes, Mary clearly a woman of deep faith in the LORD, and we are told she took virtue and purity seriously. These things are not to be despised or overlooked. They were vitally important, and should remain so for us for these things are not too high for us.

Indeed, the Greek word translated here as ‘highly favoured’ is used in only one other place in the NT where it is applied to us who “have redemption through His [Christ’s] blood”, that is, we have been saved. That verse is Ephesians 1 v 6: “wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved”. I have always enjoyed the thought that in Christ I have come to be “accepted” by God. This emphasises my standing in God’s presence. But allow me to transpose the words from Luke 1 v 28: “wherein He hath highly favoured us in the beloved”. This emphasises God’s reaching out to us; pursuing us with His grace. This chimes with the first part of the verse: “to the praise of the glory of His grace”.

Now, it is one thing for the LORD to reach out to us with grace. If we are to enjoy the fruit of this grace – it’s blessing – then we need to be receptive to it. This is where we turn in the second phrase, as Gabriel says “Fear not Mary, for thou hast found favour with God”.

Finding favour is quite a common expression in the Bible. It is used to describe some very down to earth relationships. Consider Joseph, who “found grace” in the “sight” of Potiphar, his Egyptian master, “and he served him” (Genesis 39v4). This tells us that Joseph worked hard to please his master. He was obedient, dutiful, and I’m sure even went ‘over and above’ the expectation. As a result, his master honoured him and “made him overseer over his house”.

Think also of Esther, who repeatedly comes before the King with the words “if I have found favour in thy sight”. She knew that to come before the King and not have his favour would mean a death sentence, so she went prayerfully (Esther 4v16), with the appropriate attire – she “put on her royal apparel” (5v1) – and stood in a place where she would be seen. She sought after the King’s favour, and she found it. We are reminded of the Lord’s words: “Seek, and ye shall find” (Matthew 7v7).

Of course, the difference between Joseph and Esther seeking to find favour with men, and our finding favour with God, is that we can do nothing to make ourselves any more worthy of his favour. We are but sinners, but this is what makes the first statement we discussed above so important. we can’t do anything to earn God’s favour, but when we seek for it, we will find it, because of the “glory of His grace”. And having found it, let us rejoice in it. Have a read of Ephesians 1 – the whole chapter – and delight in the many blessings the Lord has blessed us with by His grace.