The apple of His eye

Katy Emslie-Smith December 06, 2021 0 0

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Luke 1: 28 (NIVUK)

28 The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’

The messenger Gabriel is on the point of giving Mary news of her surprise pregnancy which on first hearing will hardly lead her to feel favoured, honoured or esteemed. Far from it, she would likely feel deeply anxious about the condemnation of her community, dislocation from her family and estrangement from her fiancé. She lived in a shame and honour culture, and with this news of an unexpected pregnancy she would have understood that she risked the deepest shame in the opinion of her people. These are hardly the conditions which would speak of finding favour in anyone’s eyes.

So much of life mitigates against feeling favoured or esteemed. In pain and difficulty, loss and uncertainty, many find it difficult to believe they are loved or favoured by God. Yet here is Gabriel, the first evangelist, the first messenger with the good news that when Jesus comes, no matter the circumstance, the perfect love of God is with us and will stay with us. He opens his greeting with  two abiding pastoral statements which meet every person from the deep heart of the gospel: You are cherished by God and He is with you.

Do you need to be reminded that you are favoured in God’s eyes? A favour which he has shown in the giving of His son for you and the invitation to wonderful restored relationship with Him? Do you need to be reassured that today and in every day, whatever the news of that day will be, this God of love is with you? Do you know someone who needs to know how profoundly cherished and loved they are? Might you be a bringer of this message of hope today?

PRAYER:

Dear God,

We thank you that nothing can separate us from your love which is found is Christ Jesus.

Thank you that we are each cherished by you as the apple of your eye.

Thank you for Christ’s promise that He will be with us to the end of the age.

Amen.