Morning by Morning, December 14 - “Blessed” and “Highly Favored” in Mary’s “Yes” Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my heart and guide by steps in Your way today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ... “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’” “But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end’” (Luke 1:26-33). Mary was “blessed” and “highly favored.” Chosen by God the Father to have God the Son conceived in her womb by God the Holy Spirit (v. 35). In that sense, never has there been and never will there be another one like Mary. She wasn’t sinless (Romans 3:23). And she wasn’t a virgin until the day she died (Matthew 13:55). It wasn’t her blood that forgives us and cleanses us from unrighteousness to restore us and reconcile us to God (Colossians 1:20). But it was her trusting faith and obedience to God that prepared the way of the Lord for the birth of Christ as both Son of God and Son of Man (Philippians 2:5-11). And at the same time, by the grace of God, every life that would be touched and changed by Mary’s Son -- Son of God and Son of Man -- would also be “blessed” and “highly favored.” We’re “blessed” because “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). We’re “highly favored” because “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). Though Mary was already “blessed” and “highly favored” before she ever said “Yes” to the angel of the Lord, speaking her famous words, “Let it be to me according to your word,” (v. 38), she still had to say “Yes” in order that her destiny would be fulfilled according to the blessing and favor of the Lord. And at the same time, the same is true with each of us whose lives are touched and changed by Mary’s Son. We have to say “Yes” to the blessing and favor of the Lord -- “Yes” we believe and “Yes” we receive (John 3:16). “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because (we) are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into (our) hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore (we) are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:4-7). When we say “Yes” like Mary, when we say “Yes, let it be to us according to Your word,” we are no longer slaves to the world but sons and daughters of God. We are “heirs of God through Christ.” We are “blessed” and “highly favored.” May we say “Yes, Lord” every day to Your blessings and to Your favor that we have in Christ because of Mary’s Yes. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you say "Yes" to the Lord and all His blessings and favor for you to live your life for Him, in Jesus' name. God bless you!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries Mailing Address: 412 S. Adams Street #148 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free at: https://messiah-ministries.org | 
