1:30 So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Beloved,
Why do some people have no fear? The very beginning of God’s promise to Mary was based on her relationship to Him; she had found favor with God. What does it mean to find favor with God and how does finding favor remove fear? Romans 8: 8 says, “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” The simple fact of Scripture is that there are those who please God and those who do not. Let me very quickly say that this does not mean that God has abandoned those who do not live a life that pleases Him. God is very much concerned about those who are living outside His will and God commands everyone who loves Him to be genuinely concerned about this group of people also. Remember the “Love God and love other people” part of Mathew 22? But, God also tells us that living in obedience to His commands brings with it a security that this world cannot offer and those who choose to ignore this principle find that they live in fear. What is it about God’s will that removes fear? Why is it that when Jesus met people who were fearful, He told them to “Fear not?” The answer to this question is a simple one word phrase; “Relationship.” Jesus was the tangible proof that God wants to have a relationship with you. Jesus is the One who can and will remove the source of fear if you are willing to have a relationship with Him. When the angel spoke to Mary, the only thing that served to remove her fears was the promised birth of Jesus. The angel did not tell her that everything was going to be ok. He did not tell her that she would be spared from pain or suffering. He told her that she would have a Son who was the very Son of God and that His rule would last forever. Wow! In short, knowing Jesus personally is the key to removing fear. He is the source of peace in our lives. You may be thinking that this promise does little to remove fear, but take a look at what the writer of Hebrews says, Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11: 6) This brings us back to Mary and why she had found favor with God. Mary believed that God was real and that He would provide abundantly (reward) her for living in obedience to Him. When the angel announced the news, it was not so much the news itself that removed the fear as much as it was Mary’s complete trust in God that removed the fear. It is true that Mary may not have understood all the details of what Jesus would do once He had grown up but Mary trusted that what God had revealed to her was true no matter how unbelievable it seemed. Mary’s ongoing trust is what found favor with God and it was this favor born out of a trusting relationship that removed the fear in Mary’s life. Is there fear in your life? Do you believe that God can remove the sources of fear in your life if you simply trust Him to do so?
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