DECEMBER 1 THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING By Don Lough, Jr. President and CEO, Word of Life Fellowship
And 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 bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” (Luke 1:30–31)
Life can change in the blink of an eye. You go about your daily routine, making your usual plans; suddenly, the unexpected occurs, altering everything. Take a moment to step into Mary’s sandals. She was a young woman with big plans and dreams, eagerly anticipating her marriage to Joseph. Then, out of nowhere, the angel Gabriel appeared, delivering a message that would shake her world to its core. "You will soon be pregnant with a Son, and you must name Him Jesus." Imagine the flood of fear and questions that surged through her heart. Talk about life change! This was a life-altering moment, turning her world upside down. Why did this happen to Mary? Did she somehow deserve to be the Messiah’s mom? Not at all. Like the rest of us, Mary was an unworthy sinner who needed a Savior (Romans 3:23). God’s choice of Mary lies with one powerful word in verse 30: “favor.” “Favor” is typically translated “grace,” which means undeserved or unmerited favor. God’s favor extended to Mary was not based on her good works or character but on grace. It was God’s gift of grace that forever changed her life. As we enter the Christmas season, God freely offers His gift of grace to anyone willing to receive it. We do not deserve it, but we desperately need it. Because of our sinfulness, we cannot earn our way into heaven and obtain favor with God. He sent His Only Son, Jesus, to earth on a mission to die on the cross, rescuing us from the death penalty we rightly deserve (Romans 6:23). God graciously offers His free gift of eternal life to you right now. Have you ever accepted it?
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