…. the angel said, “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.” – Luke 1:28. Oh what a privilege to be God’s favoured child! Wondering whether you are a favoured child of God? Mother Mary was perplexed at what the Angel had said, she was wondering what kind of greetings it is. Just imagine, when you enter into an office, CEO of the company says, Good Morning my favoured one, you are so special, and I will be with you always. Will it not take some time to sink in? Mary had that moment as a young woman, just betrothed to Joseph.

Luke 1:30 – The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God”. Just put your name in place of Mary and read and proclaim, I have found favour with God. Today, many of us feel, we are outcast. We just don’t belong to the group around us. My views are not being heard of. I am not being valued. Dearly beloved in Christ, let me tell you, God’s favour is upon you. Your life has just made a U-Turn.  Just believe that you are the favoured child of God.

Luke 2:52 – And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. This is a great blessing demonstrated by Jesus through His life in earth. Just believe you are favoured by God. In my first job where I served for 9 years, I was rated Outstanding every single year, winning so many accolades and awards in every annual award function. During initial years, people said my manger was favouring me, that’s why I get Outstanding rating. Years passed by same people testified that you are special, because, over the years you have moved to different projects and worked under different management but still you found success, and I remember one of my friend saying in front of all, it’s because he believes in Jesus. It’s special when you know, you are a favoured child of God. You may ask, is the favour of God still present in your workplace. It is very much present! I have further worked in two more MNC’s in last 9 years and I can tell you for the glory of God, I still get top rating in every single year and win awards. There is an open secret to it – my submission to God’s plan wholeheartedly.

Read Luke 1:31-36, where the Angel says to Mary “listen carefully…” and details the birth and life of Jesus. Beauty of the message come in verse 37, “For with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible.” Amen. As the Angel’s message is beyond imagination of human, Mary would have found it very difficult to comprehend. Knowing her inner thought, word of God was said to affirm her that, “with God nothing is impossible”. This beautiful encouraging word made Mary to respond in verse 38, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.

Submitting to God’s word wholeheartedly, makes a big difference in our life. For a woman who was just hearing something completely beyond the imagination of a human brain, in matter of few minutes, her life changed! Reason, she believed the word of God without any doubt. The acceptance to let what God wants to do in her life is a lesson to us. May it be done to me according to Your word. Are we able to say to God, Lord just let Thy will be done in my life. I just submit to you wholeheartedly, knowing I am your favoured kid, and You know what needs to be done in my life.

Isaiah 55:8,9 Lord says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts. How many times we say, Lord this is not what I want. You are not doing what I like or letting me live a life that is pleasing to me. Dearly beloved, “His plans are supernatural, His gifts are beyond comprehension, His Love is beyond measure”. Just enjoy the favouritism of God, leave things according to His will. It’s going to be great!

When the will of God starts to work in our Life, there is going to be untold joy. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him. And she exclaimed loudly, “Blessed [worthy to be praised] are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! In Luke 1:41, 42. When the favoured woman of God greeted Elizabeth, even the baby in womb leaped in joy (Luke 1:44). Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaimed in verse 45, “And blessed [spiritually fortunate and favoured by God] is she who believed and confidently trusted that there would be a fulfilment of the things that were spoken to her [by the angel sent] from the Lord.” What an affirmation of the word of God!

This is the glorious gift from God, when we believe the favour of God is up on us and submit to His unfailing plans. No matter who you are, you are favoured by the grace of God. Luke 2:8-10 says “In the same region there were shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people”. This is a beautiful example of God’s favour can be on anyone and everyone. It is not based on your qualification; it is based on His grace. Dearly beloved, believe that you are favoured child of God. You are privileged, oh what a joy it is.

“Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.” Are you longing for peace in your life? Broken? Distressed? Backslidden? Stressed? Let me tell you my dear friend, Jesus Christ was born in a manger swaddled in a simple cloth; that’s the welcome given to God in earth. God choose shepherds first to announce his birth to them, to make a statement that He honours His promises that was made to great shepherds like Abraham, Moses and David about the deliverance that will be brought by the Messiah. Remember, at the time of Jesus’ birth, shepherds stood on the bottom rung of the Palestinian social ladder. Yet, God favoured them over every people in the earth. No matter what state in your life you are in, you are favoured by God. Jesus accepts us, just the way we are. You don’t need to wear a mask and portray false personality to be God’s favoured child. John 15:16, “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you. God has chosen you, just believe.

In this joyful time of Christmas, while we celebrate with family and friends, I urge you to share with your beloved ones that God has favoured each of us. His plans are so beautiful, that we are just expected to submit ourselves to God wholeheartedly to enjoy the execution of His plans.

Wising you and your family, a Joyful Christmas. May this Christmas bring great Joy that overflows in your life.

Amen