“The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.”,” Luke 1:25
Be sure to read the Christmas story. Luke 1
God’s kindness lets faithful people be part of His plan. Elizabeth was set to experience that blessing in special ways.
Elizabeth doesn’t have a lot written about her. However, scripture reveals that she was righteous in the eyes of God. Luke 1:6
She wasn’t sinless, but she obeyed the Lord and walked with Him.
Like her husband, Zechariah, Elizabeth’s family could trace their priestly lineage back to Aaron, the brother of Moses.
In the story, we see her sadness about not having children. What she didn’t realize was that her prayers were soon to be answered.
Elizabeth was one of the lives the coming Messiah would touch. That’s the thing about our Lord: He gives in extraordinary ways. Those who know Him, like Elizabeth did, have always known. These extraordinary touches from God are unrelated to earthly treasures.
“How kind the Lord is.”
Elizabeth was the second person to know that the Messiah was about to enter their world, after her husband, Zechariah.
What an awesome time for Elizabeth. She was pregnant with the child who would grow up to introduce the Messiah to the world. Luke 1:15-17
Elizabeth must have had hopes and dreams for her own baby. But she was willing to trust God with her own little son and the role he would play.
Also, Elizabeth had the joy of spending time encouraging and rejoicing with the mother of our Savior.
The Bible says that Elizabeth’s little baby was filled with the Holy Spirit as soon as Mary greeted her. Her baby boy leapt within her in the presence of Jesus.
What joy must have filled her heart. Luke 1:39-45
Think about it. The Holy Spirit wasn’t given to all of God’s people until after Jesus ascended back into heaven, thirty-three years later.
When Elizabeth and Zechariah finally welcomed their little son, the confirmation of their faith was displayed. They named him John, as the angel, Gabriel, had instructed.
What a blessing to joyfully trust and serve God, even when it seems our hopes are all but gone.
The blessings for each of His own are as unique as each life He touches. We just need to wait on Him and stay in His footprints.
I hope this Christmas season that every believer will recommit to look for God’s plan in your own life.
Be known by God, as Zechariah and Elizabeth were, faithful to follow Him in all you do. Luke 1:45
For those who are still searching, I hope the best gift you receive this Christmas, is Jesus.
He Loved you enough to give you everything that matters, and the cost was His very own life.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 