December 5 – Mary and Elizabeth
39 In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah 40 where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed! 43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!” Luke 1:39-45
Mary and Elizabeth: Cousins and Friends (Luke 1:39-45)
I had just gotten pregnant with my son and hadn’t even taken a test yet, just thought that I was. My phone rang. It was my sister-in-law telling us that she was pregnant.
My husband and I just grinned at each other and went out and bought a pregnancy test. After trips to our doctors, we found out that we had the same due date. The same due date, people! Neither of us had even realized that the other couple was trying to get pregnant.
Special Experience
It was such a special experience to go through such an exciting time with a family member and friend. We got to share so many milestones and our two boys are cousins and best friends.
I can easily imagine Mary rushing into Elizabeth’s house and hugging her cousin. But, how amazing must it have been for Elizabeth to feel her incredibly significant baby leap with joy inside of her just because he got close to the Messiah inside of Mary!
The Blessing of the Holy Spirit
At that moment, Elizabeth was filled with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Out of that in-filling of the Holy Spirit comes a blessing.
Blessing pours out of Elizabeth.
“Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed! 43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!” Luke 1:42-45
Elizabeth who feels so honored and loved to be chosen by God to bear John the Baptist also responds to Mary’s visit by feeling honored and blessed. Because she sees herself as blessed and favored, she can speak blessing over Mary and Jesus.
Mary’s Blessing
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!” Luke 1:45
I want people to say that of me. That I believed that the Lord would finish what He started. That what He spoke about me would be fulfilled.
I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
December 5 Devotional Action Step:
Let’s remind ourselves today that we are not disqualified from God’s plan for our lives. He will complete what He has started in us.
It is time to believe that the Lord loves us and favors us. He will fulfill what He has spoken to us.
Prayer:
Dear God, Help me to see myself as You see me. Let me respond to others and to You with the realization that You love me, favor me, have chosen me for Your good works, and will fulfill every promise you have made to me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Access to the other posts in this series and the free printables for this December can be found at the Series Overview page. Come join me as I pursue the peace and joy on the Savior’s birth throughout the month of December!