DAY: SEVENTEEN.

DATE:  MARCH 25, 2019.

THEME:  SINGLE ME OUT FOR FAVOUR, O LORD, AND BLESS ME AMONG MEN.

TEXT: LUKE 1:28.

INTRODUCTION: Favour is an act of kindness performed or granted out of goodwill.  It can be referred to as preferential treatment shown to somebody.  When a man finds favour in the sight of God, that man will cease to struggle for anything he desires.  Those people operating under favour may not be qualified for blessing but they get blessed all the same, simply because they have obtained favour.

CONTEXT: This passage is partly about how Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary with the greeting of good news.  From all indications, Mary never expected to see an angel of the Lord and receive special favour from heaven.  She thought there was nothing unique about herself that should attract such favour.

The angel broke the good news to Mary that she would become the mother of the Promised Messiah whose name would be Jesus, that is “Jehovah is Salvation” (Matt. 1:21).

Mary the mother of our Lord, was not the only Virgin woman but she was singled out for favour and blessing.

Truly, she was blessed and favoured among women to have received angelic visitation (Lk. 1:26-27).  Her response (verse 29), “what manner of salutation this should be?” reveals three great attributes of her before God, viz:  (i) Humility; (ii) Honesty; and (iii) Faith.

Our faith in Christ is the only way to receive this loving favour and enjoy the blessings of God.  No religious, intellectual, or moral effort can absolutely earn us salvation, because our salvation comes only from God’s mercy and love.  “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him .” (Heb. 11:6).

How can one attract divine favour and blessing?

1. Salvation: The first way to attract God’s favour and blessing is to be saved, because salvation automatically attracts favour (John 3:16; Rom. 8:1). Favour is a birthright of children of the kingdom. (2 Cor. 5:17).
2. Mercy: When you are merciful, you will obtain mercy (Matt. 5:7).  Those who show mercy to people are always located by favour.
3. Divine Presence: Nobody can receive favour and be blessed outside the place where God dwells. Therefore, being conscious of the presence of God is key to our spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3). There is joy in God’s presence.

CONCLUSION: When God singles you out for favour and blesses you, the unusual will happen, the supernatural will take over, and there will be an unimaginable turnaround