Highly Favoured (Luke 1:28)

2023-12-09

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. (Luke 1:28)

Yesterday, we talked about being “wellbeloved.” Here, we see Gabriel came to Mary the mother of the Lord, saying that she is “highly favoured,” that “the Lord is with thee,” and that she is “blessed... among women.” Later, we see that she has “found favour with God” (Luke 1:30). Surely a righteous woman would be chosen to be the mother of the Lord.

But this is only the beginning of what we find. We read also: “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:5-6).

This word “accepted” is the same word as “highly favoured.” We are highly favored in the Beloved, Jesus Christ. Everyone who is born again is highly favored.

This word for “accepted” and “highly favoured” is a verb form with the same root for the noun used for “grace.” You do not elicit grace; God bestows it. It is the same with us; this special honor is given because of “the good pleasure of his will” and “To the praise of the glory.” Rest in His grace and favor.