In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Luke 1:39-45
We should all have a relative or friend that we can go to in trying times. More than that, as God’s chosen, we should want to be that relative or friend for others. Elizabeth was that to Mary. Mary had an encounter with the Holy Spirit that an angel told her about. It changed everything for her future and the future of the world and Mary needed to tell someone.
Elizabeth was an older relative of Mary’s. But wasn’t Elizabeth’s age that qualified her and it wasn’t that she was related to Mary that qualified her. It wasn’t even her circumstances, or her life’s experience that qualified her to hear of Mary’s special news. It was the special anointing that God placed in Elizabeth, for His own purpose, to make way for the Savior.
Elizabeth had a purpose.
Mary was carrying a baby that had been conceived by the Holy Spirit. Mary was carrying Jesus in her womb. Mary needed to hear, see, and experience life with Elizabeth. Elizabeth was someone who had a visible sign that the Lord was with her, and that she had His favor on her life. Who do you have in your life with a visible sign that the Lord is with them?
Mary trusted the angel and knew that Elizabeth would keep her secret, and cherish it, for as long as needed. Elizabeth could not understand that Mary trusted her with this genuinely unique secret, so she stated:
“But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
Simply, because God chose her.
Reflect
Just like Elizabeth, God wants to use each of his followers, for His purpose. What is God calling you to in this season? When you get surprisingly good news, do you have a trusted Christian friend to go to, like Mary and Elizabeth’s relationship? If you don’t start praying for God to bring these kinds of friendships into your life.
Pray
Dear Jesus,
I want to my life to be used by you, for your purpose. Regardless of my circumstances, help me to go beyond myself, so that you can use me to prepare the way for your will to be done. I also pray for relationships in my life to be strengthened – like Elizabeth and Mary – I want strong, Christian friendships that can encourage me and keep me on your righteous path.
Amen.