Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:39-45, Ephesians 4:1
Angels have such cool jobs, don’t they? They get to announce news—like “Guess who’s pregnant!” Now being pregnant is exciting. But, relatives pregnant at the same time is doubly exciting. No sooner did the angel leave her home when Mary took off to see Elizabeth, who by this time was in her sixth month. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, the unborn baby jumped and scripture states she was “filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Obviously, this was no casual cousin call. Elizabeth recognized a deeper spiritual significance in Mary’s visit, and she responded, “Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
No doubt we’ve all had times when we felt undeserving of God’s favor. Why He would grant His love and mercy to us may always remain a mystery. But as recipients of His favor, we do have a responsibility—to live lives worthy of the calling we have received. In fact, Paul exhorts nine different times that we should be, live, and act “worthy” of the Lord. (See Eph. 4:1; Php. 1:27; Col. 1:10; 1 Th. 2:12; 2 Th. 1:5, 11; 1 Tim. 3:8, 11; Tit. 2:2).
How do we begin living a life worthy of His call? Elizabeth gives us the first step: “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” First, we accept what the Lord says at face value. Then we intentionally live it out.
- What would you tell someone who feels undeserving of God’s favor?
- How are you living your life worthy of the Lord?