Just like Mary

When I think of the birth of Christ, I sometimes wonder what it was about Mary that caused the God of the universe to choose her to carry His Son in her womb. Gabriel referred to Mary as "highly favored." I learned recently that the Greek word translated "highly favored" in that verse is only used one other time in the New Testament - in Ephesians 1:6. In the verse "to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved" the word "accepted" is the same Greek word translated "highly favored" in Luke 1:28. God's grace has made us highly favored in Christ. Just as Mary could rejoice because of God's favor, so can you and I. Mary was a very special woman, blessed to be the mother of Jesus. What made her special was something every believer shares - the incredible privilege of carrying Christ. Many times it is far easier for us to believe someone else, especially someone like the mother of Jesus, is highly favored, but the incredible truth is that in Christ we are all highly favored.