Daily D – Luke 1:39-40

by | Dec 22, 2021 | Daily D | 0 comments

David G Bowman Logo

Luke 1:39, 40  In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. (CSB)

Some secrets are too big to keep. Some news is too great to keep to yourself. Even so, even the best of news spoken in the wrong place at the wrong time can lead to the wrong results. Where could Mary go and who could she tell her great good news?

Gabriel had made a connection for her when he said, “And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God,” (verses 36, 37). 

Mary knew Elizabeth’s long-denied desire to have a child. Hearing of her miraculous conception illuminated the path she quickly set out upon. Notice the word “hurried.” Mary and her relative Elizabeth had much to celebrate, more even than Mary then knew.

When Mary arrived, “Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed!’” (verses 41, 42). The Message says Elizabeth “sang out exuberantly.”

Let’s pause for a moment and reflect on all the singing going on in the Christmas story. Elizabeth sings (verses 42-45). Mary sings (verses 46-55). Zechariah, who had not spoken a word in nine months, sings (verses 68-79). Angels sing (2:13, 14). 

Luke inserts a note in 2:19 which leads at least one reader to imagine that Mary softly and tenderly sang again on that silent night after the noise of the birth, the arrival of the shepherds, and the report of the angels. 

When Mary arrived and greeted Elizabeth, “the baby leaped inside her.” John the Baptist immersed inside his mother made his first announcement of the Messiah’s presence. Yes, it is true, that baby God was forming in Elizabeth’s womb had a destiny, a purpose. And that embryonic Messiah, Immanuel, God with Us, did as well. 

From conception to birth, from birth to maturity, from maturity to natural death, our Father in heaven has a plan for every life (Ephesians 2:10). Mark Twain and William Barclay, along with others, have been credited with saying, “There are two great days in a person’s life — the day we are born and the day we discover why.” 

These two babies-to-be were as real as you and I when they were announced before they were conceived. Each had a mission as big as, and even bigger than, the whole wide world. No wonder “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart,” (2:19 NIV). 

There is so much more to notice and to consider in Luke 1. Today is a good day to read each section prayerfully, to see with new eyes, to hear with new ears, to receive with our hearts the new life God gives so graciously, so lovingly, so perfectly.

I will ponder God’s purpose for my life.

Our Father, how wonderful and beautiful is this chapter. Speak your truths to our hearts. Bless us with unhurried contemplation. Lead us to hurry in sharing this good news. Empower us to live this day in the fullness of your purpose. Amen. 

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

CONNECT WITH ME!

Interested in learning more about Church Unique or Life Younique? Send a note through the Get In Touch box or Message me through the Facebook link above.

          Church Unique Logo          Auxano Logo

GET IN TOUCH!

READ MY BLOG!

Daily D – 2 Samuel 18:18

2 Samuel 18:18 During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to carry on my name.” He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom’s Monument to this day.

Daily D – 2 Samuel 11:22-25

2 Samuel 11:22-25 So the messenger went to Jerusalem and gave a complete report to David. “The enemy came out against us in the open fields,” he said. “And as we chased them back to the city gate, the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king’s men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite.” “Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged,” David said. “The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow! Fight harder next time, and conquer the city!”

Daily D – 2 Samuel 4:1

2 Samuel 4:1 When Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, heard about Abner’s death at Hebron, he lost all courage, and all Israel became paralyzed with fear.

Daily D – 1 Samuel 28:5-7

1 Samuel 28:5-7 When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. He asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets. Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.” His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.”

Daily D – 1 Samuel 24:16-19

1 Samuel 24:16-19 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.”