Christmas According to Kids Part 2 — Mary Knew - Monday
TODAY’S VERSE
Luke 1:28
And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (ESV)
One of my favorite things to do every year is attend a few art fairs. I’ve been to art fairs all over the state, and I’m always amazed at the talent and creativity of local artists. If you’ve ever been in my house or ever received a gift from me, you know that I tend to stray from mass market items and do my best to support local artisans.
A few years ago, I attended a local art fair where children displayed their paintings alongside professional artists. Some pieces were rough and messy, as if creativity had spilled beyond the edges. One painting in particular caught my attention. It was a simple sunset—a bit crooked, colors blending in ways they probably weren’t meant to. But the tag underneath made me stop. It read: “Chosen for special display by the artist’s mentor.”
Suddenly, the painting wasn’t just a child’s attempt. It was something selected, accepted, and delighted in—not because it was perfect, but because someone saw value in it.
When Gabriel appears to Mary, he calls her “favored.” Not because she was the most influential woman in Nazareth. Not because she had earned spiritual status. She was favored because God placed His grace upon her. Period. Favor wasn’t a reward for performance; it was a gift rooted in God’s character.
Favor doesn’t mean a life without challenges. Mary’s life would soon be full of uncertainty, misunderstanding, and risk. Yet God’s favor preceded the difficulties. Favor is not the absence of obstacles, but the presence of God’s grace in the middle of them.
We often strive for approval, chasing affirmation from bosses, friends, parents, or even strangers. But kingdom favor isn’t earned the way human approval is. It’s spoken over us because of who God is, not because of what we do. Mary teaches us that the starting point of the Christian life is not achievement—it’s grace.
You don’t have to perform for the God who has already chosen to love you. You don’t have to perfect your life before He places His hand upon it. Like that painting, you are seen, known, and selected—not for your perfection, but for His purposes.
Favor also changes the way we see others. When God sees us with favor, we begin to see the world through a lens of grace, not judgment. It shifts our relationships, our choices, and even our sense of identity.
APPLICATION
Where do you find yourself striving for approval? What would it look like today to rest in God’s unearned favor instead?
PRAYER
Father, thank You that Your favor is not something I work for, but something You freely give. Help me live from Your grace rather than striving for acceptance elsewhere. Let Your favor shape how I see myself and how I walk with You. Amen.