SHARED JOY

When Mary submitted to the angel's message (see Luke 1:26-38) with the humble words, "I belong to the Lord, body and soul . . . let it happen to me as you say" (Phillips translation), I wonder if we could even begin to understand the mix of emotions that must have been coursing through her mind.

Mary obviously was well aware of the Messianic hopes and prophecies - but knowing something and having that something directly affect your own life can be two different things!

On one hand, there would be the extreme honor of being chosen to bless the world with a Savior. BUT - on the other hand, there would be the very real possibility of being stoned to death (for being pregnant outside of marriage) before the child could even be born.

The news Gabriel spoke to Mary about her cousin, Elizabeth's, pregnancy would undoubtedly have brought some momentary calm to her heart. But questions - oh how the questions would surface over and over and over again. I can imagine that Mary's mantra the entire time she journeyed to the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth might have gone something like this - "Oh please, Lord - PLEASE let Elizabeth be pregnant like the angel said . . . please, Lord . . . please let this be true."

Imagine something else with me, girlfriends. Suppose you were pregnant and no one knew. No one. But the minute you saw the family member your heart longed to see, the FIRST thing she said to you was to confirm your pregnancy and tell you specifics about your baby. Gender included. Would that freak you out? I can guarantee you it would me!

How did Elizabeth know? Luke 1:41 answers that question. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. HE is the Spirit of knowledge and revelation. The prophetic words Elizabeth spoke to young Mary were words straight from the Spirit of God.

Listen, my sweet sisters . . . so mighty was the presence of Christ in Mary that both Elizabeth and the baby inside her reacted with joy when Mary arrived. The baby leaped in Elizabeth's womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:41)

The presence of Christ was so mighty in Mary that it caused Elizabeth AND her unborn baby to worship Holy God. You see, worship occurs when our spirit responds lovingly to the awareness of God. Scripture says that the baby who would be born John the Baptist "leaped" in his mother's womb. The word translated "leap" is a word that was often used to describe exulting in worship and praise. Elizabeth responded in joy and humility. She spoke joyful words of blessing to Mary but bowed in humility before God - "who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:43) Humility that bespeaks such gratitude to God is always an acceptable expression of worship before His throne.

Here's the questions we need to ponder today, girlfriends. . . would you join me in asking yourself these things:

• Is the presence of Christ in me noticeable to others?


• Do people respond to the Jesus they see in me?