Most of the world's religions call people to seek God's favor through good deeds.  God established something totally different from that in Jesus.  Jesus came, God in human form, in order to give us God's favor as a gift.  When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, who was about to become the mother of Jesus, his initial greeting didn't have its desired affect:  ²⁹Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. ³⁰“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 

Gabriel had told Mary God was with her.  Now he tells her that she has found favor with God.  God's favor in this case meant Mary would become Jesus' mother.  In our case God's favor may mean many different things.  What it means for sure is we live in relationship with the God of the universe!  If you pause and try to wrap your brain around that last statement, it's impossible.  That the God of the universe even notices our existence is amazing.  That He wants to be in relationship with us is overwhelming!  That's what Christmas is really all about in a nutshell.  God became one of us so we may become one with God.  During this Christmas season one of the best ways we can demonstrate that we already have God's favor is by living with the love, peace and joy the season is supposed to offer.  As each day begins, let's take a moment to pause, thank God that He has show us His favor through Jesus, and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us anew that we may reflect the love, peace and joy of Jesus in the small and bigger tasks of life.  Today, if you have the opportunity to be served by someone--a store clerk, a cashier, a bus driver....take a moment and say, "Thank You."  We are God's ambassadors to the world.  He is making His appeal through us, so let's be winsome ambassadors in all that we think, say and do!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for showing us Your favor so freely.  Thank You that we don't have to work for it or earn it, but simply accept it in the name of Jesus.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may extend Your favors to all we encounter today.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.