“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!’”
– Luke 1:26–28


Take a moment and read Luke 1:26-28. Can you even imagine what Mary must have been thinking at this moment? An angel just up and appeared to her! It’s not like she got a text from the angel asking if it was okay to drop in. One second, there wasn’t an angel in her living room, and the next second, there was. Talk about a surprise visitor!


Throughout the rest of the Bible, whenever we see an angel appear to someone, the first thing they say is usually, “Do not be afraid.” However, in the case of the angel that appeared to Mary, it wasn’t “do not be afraid,” but that the Lord favored her and was with her. This radical truth would be a source of encouragement, hope, and joy in Mary’s life.


We all have “angels” in our lives, those people who come into our lives at just the right moment with a message from God. They don’t have halos and wings; they’re people like you and me whom God chooses to speak through. Who have been those people in your life who help you re-center and know that you’re not alone? Who has been a source of encouragement and joy? And more importantly, who have you been an angel to?


Some of you might know the answer to that question, but I bet there are also people to whom you’ve been an angel without knowing it. I think that’s one of the coolest parts of how our spiritual lives play out. God does things through us without us even realizing it. During this season, pray that God will use you as a voice of truth to speak hope and joy into a life that needs an encouraging word.



QUESTIONS:


If an angel suddenly showed up in your living room, what do you think it would have to say to you?


Why do you think the angel called Mary "favored one?" What does that mean?


Who are some people in your life who have encouraged you and pointed you to God? How might you do the same for others?