🌟You are highly favoured…

“26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed (engaged) to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.”
Luke 1:26-29 NKJV (brackets mine)
 

“26–27 During the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent from God’s presence to an unmarried girl named Mary, living in Nazareth, a village in Galilee. She was engaged to a man named Joseph, a true descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Grace to you, young woman, for the Lord is with you and so you are anointed with great favor.” 29 Mary was deeply troubled over the words of the angel and bewildered over what this may mean for her. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary to bring her the news of the supernatural conception, and his introduction is “Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”. This greeting troubles Mary.”
Luke 1:26-29 The Passion Translation (TPT)

The angel Gabriel appears to Mary to bring her the news of the supernatural conception, and his introduction is “Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”. This greeting troubles Mary.

“Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.”
Luke 1:29 NLT

Many Christians would also be confused and disturbed if an angel or even God greeted them like this, because we don’t feel highly favoured, blessed and as if the Lord is with us. Many of us would feel more as ease if we were greeted with a rebuke or something condemning: “You pitiful one! You sinful and weak one! God is far from you!”.  If we feel more comfortable with the negative greeting more than the positive one, it’s because we don’t know God’s true nature and we don’t know our true identity as Christians.

The phrase “highly favoured” was translated from the Greek word “CHARITOO” which is also translated as ‘accepted’ in Ephesians 1:6 (we are “accepted in the beloved”).

Just like Mary, we are accepted and highly favoured of God. This has nothing to do with our performance. It is purely by grace and activated by faith! God loves you, God favours you and God accepts you because of Jesus and what He did for you. You can experience that Divine favour today as you believe in Jesus and receive what He is freely offering you.