Have you ever experienced the smile of God? If you have, you know that feeling of God’s approval resting on your heart. A peace that settles deep in your soul that he is pleased with you, not because of anything you’ve done, but because of what Christ has done. The smile of God means living in his favor, grace and approving presence. Today, we see a simple young girl who experiences the smile of God in a totally unexpected way.
Remember: Luke 1:26-28
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” - Luke 1:26-28
In the sixth month, meaning Elizabeth’s sixth month of her pregnancy with John the Baptist, in a small country town, a young girl, just living her life, witnessed her own breakthrough of the silence of God being shattered in Gabriel’s visitation. Mary was not doing anything flashy or attention grabbing for her to experience the smile of God. Gabriel approaches her with a greeting and announcement of God’s favor on her life. She was living a humble, hidden life. No grand accomplishments to illicit the smile of God, it is simply pronounced over her TWICE, first in verse 28 and then again in verse 30. I wonder what her tender heart felt at this greeting?
Reflect
Have you ever felt the “smile of God” on your life? Maybe you feel more the frown of God than you do his favor. We live in a world impressed with accomplishment. A world that praises those who are successful at producing. Christian influencers and celebrities garner the smile of the Christian community, and many times the attention of the world as well.
It’s easy to think the smile of God is only reserved for those in the spotlight. But our Scripture today reinforces the truth that it’s not what we accomplish for God, what we produce for him, or how many people we share Christ with that warrants the approval of God, it’s simply his proclamation over our lives.
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…” - Titus 3:4-5
If you feel the frown of God today, look to Jesus, see his sacrifice bestowed on unworthy sinners. Reflect on the fact that your humble, hidden life is worthy of the smile of God only because of Christ’s blood applied to you. It’s not based off of what we do or don’t do, it’s a direct result of his approval of his sinless Son’s sacrifice.
Respond
Carry this breath prayer in your heart today:
Breathe In:
Jesus, because of you
Breathe Out:
I experience the smile of God.
The Journey
This journey will take us through December 25th. My hope is that it would bring you encouragement in whatever waiting room you find yourself in during this Advent season. Each daily podcast will be short and sweet, leaving you with something to carry in your heart as you wait. You can also subscribe to my newsletter here.
