God's Favorite Charity

Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.

Luke 1:28

 

This is the greeting that the angel, Gabriel, spoke to Mary . The Greek word for highly favored is charitoo and is only used one other time in the New Testament. In Ephesians 1:6, Paul writes that we are the objects of God’s grace and that He has freely given (charitoo) it to us because He loves us. Just like Mary, we, as believers, are the recipients of Divine favor through His grace.

 

Being the object of Divine favor brings about special privileges. Paul continues in verses 7 & 8 of the first chapter of Ephesians to say that as God’s favored ones, we have:

 

1. Redemption through his blood.
2. Forgiveness of our sins.
3. Riches of God’s grace.

 

As I hear all the requests for donations to various charities this holiday season,  I am thankful and humbled to be the recipient of God’s gift of love and grace through His son, Jesus. Gabriel’s words to Mary are meant for us all-

 

Do not be afraid, YOUR NAME, you have found favor with God. For nothing is impossible with God!