Mary Christmas

I was struck by this twist on our Christmas greeting: wishing each other a "𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬" as opposed to a "Merry Christmas"

The angel Gabriel, God's messenger, brought an out-of-this-world greeting to a young Jewish teenager, Mary. This angel-from-the-realm-of-glory's initial words to Mary dripped of God's grace and goodness: "𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝! 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮." The verb translated ‘𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝’ [Luke 1:28] is only used two times in the whole New Testament.

It’s used in this instance for Mary: ‘You are highly favored.’ … But it’s also used in Ephesians 1:6, which says you are ‘accepted in the Beloved.’ The same blessing that was pronounced to Mary, "highly favored", is also said of us as believers. Let that mind-blowing truth sink in. Wow! In Christ, we are "accepted"..."highly favored"!

As Gabriel proclaimed to Mary, our Abba, to the praise of His glorious grace, speaks over each one of us who are "accepted" in His Son. This message, this life-changing, mind-blowing truth, brings with it the same possibilities and the same miraculous Presence because the same verb is used. When we know the love of God in Jesus Christ, we also become candidates for the redemptive, miraculous entry of His Spirit which far exceeds anything we could ever do in ourselves.

Think about it - we, along with Mary, are highly favored! I want to remind you this Christmas that Abba is especially fond of YOU. You are highly favored by the LORD. You are lavishly loved by our Father God.

Christmas changes everything! This astounding truth changes everything!

Wherever you are this Christmas, whatever you lack today, allow His Presence to flood in bringing deliverance, strength, health, restoration, wisdom, peace, and hope. I pray you will feel His divine Presence - 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐥 - 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬 - the true gift of Christmas. I want to personally wish you a "𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬" and a New Year filled with the joy of continuing to unwrap this incredible truth, highly favored one, that "with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).

Written by Gina Paglialonga who is peacefully asleep right now in Florida.