Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Suboro: Annunciation to virgin Mary

Luke 1:26-38 
V30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.”
 

Interestingly, during the Lent season, the Church commemorates March 25 as the day to remember the annunciation to virgin Mary, nine months before Christmas. The angel Gabriel greeted Mary saying, “Greetings, favoured one.” The angel further calmed the terrified Mary by reiterating that she had found favor with God. We often associate favor or blessings with wealth, health, promotion or destruction of our enemies. But here, God was calling Mary to a crisis. In fact, all of God’s heroes had to face one crisis after the other after being called by God. We can see that in the lives of Abraham, Paul and the prophet Samuel. God called them to face major crises as a part of being chosen by God. So then how do we understand grace or favor? Grace is the strength God gives to do His will even when his will is most difficult for us.
 
In V38, Mary says, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord.” When Mary submits herself to do God’s will, she is filled with the grace to bear a great child. God’s biggest blessing is often accompanied by great challenges. Are we going to deny that blessing because we don’t want to submit to God’s will? To whoever submits to God’s will and obeys God, God gives his grace. In fact, true blessedness lies in submitting to God’s will.

 
PRAYER
Dear Lord, help me to submit to your will even in the most difficult situations of my life, Amen.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God’s favor is given to those who do God’s will.
 
Rev. Thomas John, Carmel MTC, Boston
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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