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Jun 01, 2023 18:30pm

VIP

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What does being a VIP, a very important person entail? Typically, in our culture, there are certain characteristics that determine this status. I would say, for the most part, those would include popularity or status. You are important based on your popularity, if others follow you or notice you.

Wealth is another contributing factor. How much money you have can bring you up the VIP list quickly. Awards or accomplishments can also be a factor, although many times these can definitely be overshadowed by the first two.

Maybe the list would also include your prominent family or friends. Who you know or who you come from can elevate your status quickly.

I’m sure there are more, but this list gives us a pretty good look at what makes someone a VIP in our culture.

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”
Luke 1:26-28

Gabriel, an angel of God, visited a young woman named Mary. Before telling her why he is there, he proclaims to her who God says she is.

How was Mary considered highly favored with God? What characteristics made her a “VIP” with the Lord?

In her time and culture, a VIP would have some similarities as in our time. Wealth, family, and status would be high on their list. However, we would also have to add being a man. Women were not considered much at all in that culture, only the men. And we would add age. With age comes wisdom and during this time, age was appreciated and revered.

But here is Mary. She’s young, poor, has no status and is a woman. All of these things in her culture would deem her as unusable or unworthy to God.

Yet God chose her.

Out of everyone, she was chosen to be used by God for a great purpose.

You may think you are unusable to God. Perhaps you’ve even said that before, “God would never use or choose me.” But that’s certainly not true. Throughout history, God has used some of the most unsuspecting people to carry out His mission. Look at Rahab who hid the men from the guards. She was an unseemly character and yet God used her. Look at the woman at the well. Jesus used her to tell the gentiles that He was here for them, too! Look at Matthew, a man hated by his people and yet God chose Him to be a disciple and to share His testimony in the Bible. Time and time again, we see God choosing people that no one would have considered worthy by their standards.

But God sees our hearts. He knows our potential. He knows our gifts, our strengths and our weaknesses. And He can and will use all of that for His glory.

Think you aren’t VIP material? You are in the eyes of the LORD! He is ready and willing to use us, we just have to surrender to Him.