Luke 1:39-45
At that time, Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.”
Devotion
After the angelic announcement, Mary immediately traveled to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth. In the announcement, Gabriel told Mary that her relative Elizabeth, who was barren and beyond childbearing years, was also with child. Here we see Mary’s faith spring into action. In her joy and excitement, Mary traveled to visit the one person that she could celebrate this good news with. Upon arriving at their home, Elizabeth’s baby (John the Baptist) leaped in her womb.
There is no doubt that every element of the Christmas story is miraculous. In his commentary on the book of Luke, J.V. McGee writes, “There is no use trying to offer a natural explanation. You either believe what happened in these verses or you do not. You either accept the miracles of the Bible or you do not.” Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, her baby leaps in her womb.
Elizabeth is a remarkable woman. She had faith when her husband Zechariah did not. Elizabeth believed God. Now she encourages Mary. Mary is very young, and Elizabeth is much older. Elizabeth had walked with God many years and had a strong faith. She assures Mary that God would bring to fruition all the things that had been revealed to her. To worship God is to love Him more than anything or anyone else. Both Mary and Elizabeth loved God above all else. Both Mary and Elizabeth trusted God with all their hearts. Like love, faith itself is an act of worship. Blessed are all who believe in the only begotten Son of God. Blessed are those who can fully worship the Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas season!
Questions to Ponder
Do you struggle to believe in the supernatural? In what ways do we see Mary’s faith in the Christmas narrative? In what ways do we see Elizabeth’s faith in Luke chapter one? How is faith an act of worship? Do you struggle to trust God with every aspect of your life? What would it take to trust God more? What does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?
Spend some time in prayer meditating on what God revealed to you today.