Saturday and Sunday, December 19 and 20, 2020

 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

Luke 1:30

How wonderful would it be to hear an Angel of the Lord say those words to you? You have found favor with God. Wow! As I read the passage, a verse from the song “Oh Holy Night” came to mind. “Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices.” Surely, anyone would fall to their knees if an Angel of the Lord appeared to them telling them they found favor with God.

The Bible does not tell us why Mary found favor with God. Mary is an ordinary person, betrothed to an ordinary carpenter, living in an ordinary town. She began her day thinking it would be as any other day, but an angel of the Lord came to her to tell her she found favor with God and would give birth to the savior of the world. Mary responded to the angel without hesitation. She responded in true faith knowing that it was God’s will for her to do what was asked of her in spite of the consequences. We too must respond to God’s will without hesitation or complaint. We must show our love for God to all those we meet. 

I recently told my husband what I’d like my gravestone to say: “Well done good and faithful servant.” But, have I earned God’s favor? Can anyone earn God’s favor? No, but we can show our love for Him to everyone we know and meet. 

During this Advent season, make a point of going out of your way to be the Lord’s hands and feet by sharing His love, and with great joy may we all enter the gates of Heaven hearing our heavenly Father say, “Well done good and faithful servant”. 

All powerful Lord, through your grace, please find favor with all of us. Amen 

Chris Naessens is Administrative Assistant for Human Resources at Liberty Lutheran and a member and deacon at Oreland Evangelical Presbyterian Church.