Monday Morning Devo--Elizabeth

"And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God." Luke 1:36-37
Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah,and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy." Luke 1:36-45 (NAS Bible)


I love the story of Mary and Elizabeth. Mary's just been told by an angel that she will give birth to the Son of God. Moreover, the angel tells her that her relative Elizabeth is pregnant--an old woman. Now, the Bible doesn't say if they were cousins, or if Elizabeth was her aunt, or what. So what happens when Mary walks into Zacharias and Elisabeth's house? The baby which hadn't moved in Elizabeth's womb studdenly jumped. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and confirms what Mary's been told.

When God has wanted some major change in my life, one where I had to believe and step out, He has always confirmed what He told me at least once and usually more than once. Mary must have wondered if she had been seeing things, or if she had somehow misinterpreted what he said. He she was, probably about 14 or 15 years old, newly betrothed, and some angel tells her she is going to give birth to the very son of God. But he also says her relative, past menopaus, is pregnant--if she goes to see Elizabeth and she really is pregnant, that will be the proof. The confirmation. It will be real.

Sure enough,Elizabeth is not only pregnant, but she confirms what the angel said. "How has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord would come to me?"

Can you imagine how welcome those words were to Mary? How they must have buoyed her up for the trying time that was bound to follow! She would have to tell her betrothed she was with child. She would have to tell her family, and eventually the whole village would know. It's difficult to hide a pregnancy, even with the more or less shapeless tunics and cloaks they wore. Joseph wouldn't put her away, but she didn't know that then. If he did put her away, she could be stoned to death or at the least ostricized by the entire town.

Yet she had told the angel, "Let it be to me as the Lord wills."

Would I have been that willing? Would you?

Prayer: Father, I so admire people who with the courage to follow where You say to go, even when it means they could come out smeared with mud and hatred. May I always remember You confirm your big steps for my life and not go stepping out without knowing it's Your path I'm on. Thank you, Lord, for giving Your word to us. Thank You for this season of remembering You are the God of the impossible.