God’s Costly Favor
Mary was blessed, favored, endued with grace, and the Lord was with her (Lk 1:28, CEV with AB-1st). She was especially dear to God and He was by her side (Lk 1:28, Barclay). Christ was in her. She was the one appointed to bear God the Son in His incarnation. If you will, she was a God-bearer.
Without taking away anything from Mary, is it not also true that all Christians have Christ in us? Not in the same way as Mary, to be sure, but we all are God-bearers of a sort. The only other place where the Greek word for ‘highly favored’ occurs is when it is applied to all believers in Ephesians 1:6. Mary and all who believe that Jesus is the Savior are ‘highly favored.’ All His people are dear to Him, endued with grace, favored, truly blessed. He is with, for, and in each of us (Col 1:27).
Despite this favor, though, Mary suffered greatly. How many years was she rejected and misunderstood because she was pregnant before Joseph and her had come together? Such suffering is a part, also, of every believer’s life (Phil 1:29). It is an honor, which comes with a price, to be a God-bearer. For Christ to be birthed in the world – literally or figuratively – will cost the one who does the bearing. Yet, this, too, is an indication of His favor.
May we take to heart the responsibility and privilege we have of being one who carries the Lord’s special presence with us wherever we go.
Instead of being timid, learn to be appropriately bold.