Favor is rooted in grace, not human achievement
Favor is rooted in grace, not human achievement
Mary wasn’t chosen for performance; she was chosen by grace. Favor from God did not come because she had earned it or because she met a spiritual checklist. The gospel flips the expectation that God’s approval is bought by our effort; instead, it is given freely to those who receive it.
Resting in God’s favor changes how you live. It removes the frantic striving to impress God and invites a posture of humility and gratitude. When you accept that God’s work in you begins with His mercy and not your merit, you can breathe, serve, and love from a place of freedom rather than fear.
Romans 9:16 (KJV): “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
Reflection: Identify one area where you are trying to earn God’s acceptance (performance, approval, achievement). What is one concrete habit you can stop this week to remind yourself that grace, not performance, is the ground of your relationship with God?
To listen to the sermon that corresponds with this devotion, click the link: https://www.mbcpb.org/media
Mary wasn’t chosen for performance; she was chosen by grace. Favor from God did not come because she had earned it or because she met a spiritual checklist. The gospel flips the expectation that God’s approval is bought by our effort; instead, it is given freely to those who receive it.
Resting in God’s favor changes how you live. It removes the frantic striving to impress God and invites a posture of humility and gratitude. When you accept that God’s work in you begins with His mercy and not your merit, you can breathe, serve, and love from a place of freedom rather than fear.
Romans 9:16 (KJV): “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
Reflection: Identify one area where you are trying to earn God’s acceptance (performance, approval, achievement). What is one concrete habit you can stop this week to remind yourself that grace, not performance, is the ground of your relationship with God?
To listen to the sermon that corresponds with this devotion, click the link: https://www.mbcpb.org/media
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2025
January
The Essence of God's HolinessGuarding Against FamiliarityThe Transcendence of God's HolinessReflecting God's Holiness in Our LivesEmbracing the Fullness of WorshipTimeless Truths for Today's ChurchUnwavering Faith in AdversityThe Majesty of Jesus RevealedLoving Jesus and His ChurchThe Urgency of Salvation
February
Shifting Focus from Self to JesusPersevering Through Tribulations with Christ's StrengthWorshiping in Faith Amidst StrugglesServing the Church with Love and DedicationEngaging in Spiritual Warfare with AwarenessPerseverance Through Shared StrengthWorship Beyond CircumstancesBuilding the Church Through ServiceEmbracing Jesus' Priestly RoleLiving Fearlessly in His PresenceGod Places Us in Strategic LocationsGood Works as a Reflection of FaithHolding Fast to the TruthPerseverance in TrialsReturning to Our First LoveTruth and Love in HarmonyGuided by the SpiritChoosing Compassion Over ContemptThe Call to Personal RepentanceEmbracing Jesus as a Living Person
March
Faithfulness Amidst TrialsBeauty Through SufferingThe Cost of CompromiseThe Promise of Eternal LifeLiving SacrificiallyThe Subtle Drift of CompromiseRecognizing the Reality of Spiritual WarfareSteadfast Faith in the Face of PersecutionGuarding Against Worldly InfluenceThe Timeless Truth of ScriptureFaithfulness Amidst AdversityNo Justification for SinThe Perils of CompromiseThe Urgency of RepentanceEmbracing a New Identity in ChristDiscernment in ToleranceRecognizing Christ's AuthorityAvoiding the Pitfall of CompromiseEmbracing the Call to RepentanceThe Promise of Eternal RewardSpiritual Vitality Over Religious Activity
April
Personal Responsibility in FaithThe Danger of RoutineRecognizing Modern IdolatryThe Mission Field at Our DoorstepFaithfulness Beyond CircumstancesReturning to the BasicsStrength in WeaknessAttentiveness to God's PrioritiesEndurance for Eternal RewardTrue Wealth Lies in Spiritual RichesThe Peril of Lukewarm FaithEmbracing Correction as an Act of LovePersonal Responsibility in FaithSharing in Christ's Sovereign RuleForgiveness Beyond GuiltResurrection and New BeginningsGrace Overcomes Sin's SeverityFulfillment Through ForgivenessJesus, Our MediatorJoy Anchored in Christ, Not CircumstancesThe Emptiness of Cultural PromisesThe Pitfall of Superficial Religion
May
Identity and Joy in ChristThe Communal Joy of the GospelLoneliness Is a Spiritual Wound Needing Divine HealingGrace and Peace Flow from Repentance and ForgivenessGospel Fellowship Unites Beyond All DifferencesChrist Redeems Our Painful MemoriesJoy Is a Settled Confidence in God’s GoodnessFaith Is Forged in the Fires of CrisisObedience Precedes the MiracleGod’s Ways Transcend Human LogicSelfless Faith Becomes a Channel for BlessingSurrendered Resources Become Miraculous ProvisionJoy Grows Through Gospel-Driven PartnershipFaithfulness in the Ordinary Matters Deeply to GodGod’s Transforming Work in You Is Unfinished but CertainReal Fellowship Means Sharing Both Grace and StruggleJoy Flourishes When We Lean on God in WeaknessFreedom’s Cost Echoes in Every Liberty We HoldRemembrance Guards the Heart of Our ValuesGod’s People Are Called to RememberLove That Crosses Every BoundaryThe Cross—Our Everlasting Memorial of Grace
1 Comment
Mary being chosen was ,also, a fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus would be a descendent from King David. Mary was a descendent of Nathan, a son of King David. God always has a plan.