Selected and Accepted

Ever feel unaccepted?

 “When God has selected you, it doesn’t matter who else has rejected you, or neglected you. God’s favor outweighs ALL opposition.” – Author unknown

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to visit Mary (Luke 1:26-28), and he had three high compliments for her: (1) “You are favored highly, (2) the LORD is with you, and (3) among all women, you’re blessed.”

We have no information as to Mary’s mother, and scarcely more about her father, but one thing is apparent: she was RAISED RIGHT. Mary was still young—a virgin—but it is evident that her character was already well-balanced. When Gabriel declared her to be “highly favored” (meaning: lovely, charming, especially acceptable), it wasn’t just his observation—this was a message from Almighty GOD. Her behavior, demeanor and reputation were apparently above average. Today, we might say that Mary was proclaimed by the angel … to be “an angel.”

Although—from Gabriel’s assessment—Mary was attractive physically, faithful spiritually, and well-loved socially, YET mentally, she became troubled at his very first words. She was “cast in her mind”—lost in thought and presuming up a storm. (And Gabriel hadn’t even gotten to the bombshell message that he came to deliver!) But that’s when he said, “Mary, FEAR NOT!” In other words, “STOP! Let not your heart be troubled over what you know nothing about yet! The FACT is: you have found FAVOR—you are a FAVORITE—with GOD! You found GRACE in His eyes because He found GRACE in YOU!!” Something more than prettiness and popularity—even more than piety. A gracious God discovered in her a special GRACE—He observed that she was already qualified in her spirit to handle the most difficult assignment ever given to a woman.

What is GRACE? The Greek word: χάρις, which is transliterated “charis,” appears in the Greek New Testament as “grace” no less than 130 times. In short, it means God’s divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life.

 But the related word that Gabriel used when he called Mary “highly favored” was χαριτόω—“charitoo.” This special form of grace is mentioned only twice in the Greek New Testament. FIRST, as referred to above, when God sent Gabriel to tell Mary that she was blessed, chosen, and (ACCEPTED) highly favored; and, SECOND, when God inspired Paul to write to the Church (in Ephesus) that WE are blessed, chosen, and ACCEPTED (highly favored)!

Read it for YOURSELF! Take this as a special GOD-inspired message to YOU today! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath BLESSED (YOU!) with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath CHOSEN (YOU!) in Him before the foundation of the world, that (YOU!) should be holy and without blame before Him in love: to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein he hath made (YOU!) ACCEPTED (“highly favored”) in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:6-8 KJV)

Sometimes, like Mary, we become “cast in our mind”—unsure, insecure, full of questions. Anxious before we even know what to be anxious about! But God knows, He cares, He goes before us, and He has already given us everything we will ever need—to handle anything we will ever face. In this new year and beyond, whatever the circumstance du jour happens to be, let us declare …

Behold, I am Your handmaid, LORD! Come what may—I AM blessed, chosen, and ACCEPTED! By Your Word, I AM one of Your FAVORITES!!