Do you remember from my previous blog that Gabriel said to Mary, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
What did she do, or how had she lived to be chosen to carry Christ in her womb and bring Him into the world? What was the grading scale? She had to be a virgin. But other than that, what was it?
Was it her good looks? Good grades? Was she particularly well mannered? Was she extraordinarily kind? Was she somehow more patient than any other virgin in Israel? Did she secretly memorize the Torah? Did she pray 3 hours a day before beginning her chores at sunrise?
It was none of that. She did not earn it by merit. The Greek word translated as “highly favored” is used only one other time in the Bible.
Only one more time!
Can you guess who the other person mentioned in the New Testament was referenced in this way?
I’m waiting…
It’s found in one of Paul’s many “run along sentences”. (He did not write at a third grade level – that’s for sure! 😊) He said this in Ephesians 1, specifically identifying who, (other than Mary) was highly favored by God.
Are you ready for it?
Here it is… “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” (NKJV)
The exact same word translated in Luke 1 as “highly favored” is used in Ephesians 1:6 and translated as “accepted”. Those are the only two places in Scripture the Greek word “charitoo” is used.
So my friend, if you’re a follower of Jesus, you REALLY are highly favored! That makes you pretty special in my book! Not more, but not less than Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Be blessed and know you are highly favored today!
Thanks for reading and sharing my blog posts!
Thanks Michael for the encouraging research! Your newsletters are such an inspiration.
Thank you Cindy! So glad to be a blessing!
Yes. Highly favored and blessed in the fruit of my basket, fruit of my store house🦋, fruit of my ground, fruit of my going out and coming in.
I AM special… Special K!
Indeed you are my friend!
Very inspirational. Thanks Michael.
You are welcome my brother! Thanks for reading them!
Dear Michael, This is Absolutely Wonderfully Beautiful!!! And you referred to one of my Most Precious verses ❤ Thank toy so much for tour Live and Daily Spiritual Insights. Love you ❤
Thank you for your kind comment Toni! I appreciate you reading and sharing these with others.
Blessings, Michael
Thank you. I am enjoying these blogs
Hi Chris. Glad you are enjoying them my friend!
Hi Michael I am giving you a scripture God gave me in regards to when I was praying for You and Judy it found in Matt. 8;10 as you read the context I know Holy Spirit will quicken it for you . Blessings Tom
Thank you Tom for praying for Judy and me, and for sharing this wonderful Scripture with us!
Thank you Dear Bro. Michael for reminding us that we are truly loved and favored. Since HE has place us where we are living for such as a time as this may we focus on the in dwelling CHRIST and be steadfast. I hope to rejoin the class soon. Many Blessings. Ken
Thank you Ken. I hope to see you again soon as well!