“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 the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:39-45, NIV After Mary’s encounter with Gabriel, Luke informs us how Mary readied herself to visit her cousin Elizabeth. In fact, the Scriptures tell us, she “hurried” to see her. No doubt, Mary was eager to see her cousin so the two of them could share their miraculous experiences and heavenly encounters together. What fills me with awe is when Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, the baby in her womb leaped for joy and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. It is like John the Baptist was celebrating in utero the Son of God now clothed in human flesh. Equally amazing is how this is a promise of God fulfilled. If you recall, Gabriel foretold how Zachariah’s son would be “filled with the Holy Spirit even before he was born.” Well, here it is. While still in his mother’s womb, John is filled with the Holy Spirit and jumping for joy.
It also makes me smile to think how the first meeting between these two men, the one who will prepare the way and the one who is the way, was when they were both in their mother’s womb. I marvel that even in Christ’s tiniest form of development, He still commanded the praise and worship of all men at every stage of life. It also fills me with wonder to think it is likely these 2 men who met pre-birth will not meet again until 30 years later when Jesus begins his ministry. Since these two men were cousins, it is possible they interacted as youths; however, the Scriptures remain silent on this matter. No other meetings are mentioned between these two men other than their invitro encounter before Jesus’s baptism in the third chapter of this book. In fact, this first chapter ends with how John the Baptist “lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.” Notice also, Elizabeth’s blessing over Mary and upon the baby in her womb. “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child that you will bear.” But Elizabeth continues. “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her.” We need to pause here. Are we missing out on the blessings of God because we do not believe He will fulfill His promises to us? Yes, this is a prayer which Elizabeth spoke over Mary, but friends, this is also a blessing we can claim for ourselves if we just believe. DO we believe that God is a God who keeps His promises? Dear friends, I can assure you that we can trust God to fulfill every promise He has for us and every promise we see contained in the pages of Scripture. Afterall, every promise of God has been fulfilled from before the beginning of Time whether on the grand scale of the universe or in the small details of our lives. Oh, brothers and sisters in Christ, do not miss out on the blessings of the Lord because of doubt and uncertainty. Cast down and bind all disbelief in whatever area of yoru life that is roaring like a lion. Leave it at the foot of the cross. Take up and loose belief in God’s fulfilled promises in our own lives. For we are blessed when we believe. Let each one of us lay claim to these blessings this very day. Oh God, blessed are they who believe that You will fulfill Your promises to them. Father help my unbelief that I may know Your blessing. Help me lay at the foot of Your cross any area of doubt, disbelief, and worry. Fill me with Your strength and assurance that You will fulfill all things which You have promised. Give me faith to believe and strength to let go. Help me claim the blessing of Your promises this day. Amen.
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