YOU WHO ARE HIGHLY FAVORED / LUKE 1:28

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Luke 1:28

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.

You Who Are Highly Favored: Balancing the Joy and Sacrifice of God’s Calling

The Real Meaning of High Favor

In Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel approaches a young young woman in Nazareth with a history-shattering greeting: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

While Mary was uniquely favored above all women to be chosen as the earthly mother of Jesus, the New Testament writers never taught nor suggested that she is to be worshiped, prayed to, or given divine titles. Mary deserves our deepest respect for her obedience, but only her Son is worthy of our worship.

The original Greek term for “highly favored” stems from a verb meaning “filled with grace.” Mary was not chosen because of her own inherent divinity, but because she found favor with God, much like Noah did in Genesis 6:8. Her humble, godly life pleased God to such an extent that He set her apart for this monumental task (reflecting the principle found in 2 Timothy 2:21).

The Cost of the Calling: Blessing and Suffering

We often equate God’s favor with an easy path, but Mary’s life proves otherwise. Her immense blessing brought great joy, but it also invited staggering suffering and heartbreak. As Simeon later prophesied in Luke 2:35, a sword would pierce her own soul—a pain she fully realized as she watched her Son be widely rejected, mocked, and executed on the cross for no fault of His own.

In this world, when God calls you to a specific mission, the assignment rarely comes without a cost. A true walk of faith almost always involves a dual reality:

Blessing and suffering
Joy and sadness
Successes and disappointments

When you face hardships while pursuing God’s will, it does not mean you have lost His favor. Rather, it means you are walking the same narrow road of obedience that Mary walked—a road where the presence of the Lord is your ultimate security.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the ultimate gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who alone is worthy of our worship and praise. We thank You for the inspiring example of Mary, whose humble, pure, and godly life reminds us of what it means to be a vessel fit for Your use.

Lord, give us the courage to embrace Your calling on our lives, knowing that true favor is found in Your presence rather than an easy life. When Your assignments bring both joy and sacrifice, grant us the endurance to stand firm. Remind us daily that no matter what trials we face, You are always with us.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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