An Expectant Faith
This will be my youngest grandson’s first Christmas. He has no idea of the love and joy and gifts that are in store for him. But just like we waited expectantly for His birth three months ago, we are all (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc), waiting expectantly to see his reaction to all that is Christmas Day. In our scripture this week (Luke 1:36-45; 56), Mary and Elizabeth became the most improbable expectant Mothers. No one would have presumed that either of these women could become pregnant in their circumstance. Given their circumstances, pregnancy wasn’t possible… until God did the impossible. And because they each believed God for His promises about their lives, He blessed them to be expectant mothers who would usher in and facilitate His salvation for the world. I pray that you would receive God’s promises for your life, that you would believe Him to do what He says He will do, and that you would praise Him in advance… with an expectant faith! Amen
Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:36-38) After informing Mary that she will be blessed to be the mother of Jesus, the Angel Gabriel gives her further confirmation of God’s supernatural power to do things that are impossible for man. He tells Mary that her cousin Elizabeth, who has been barren for years and is beyond natural childbearing years, is now pregnant. This information was previously unknown to Mary. But it serves as further proof to her that God is moving to supernaturally intervene in the world in this moment and it underscores Gabriel’s statement that “with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37 KJV).
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! (Luke 1:39-42) After receiving the news that her older cousin Elizabeth (who was formerly barren) was now pregnant, Mary hurriedly went to her. Certainly there would have been a desire by Mary to see for herself the supernatural thing that God had done for Elizabeth. But, it also served Mary to get away from the gossip and condemnation that would have assuredly been directed at her from those in her village because of her impending out of wedlock pregnancy. Finally, it would have been a comfort to Mary to be with a relative who could understand her situation and be a kindred spirit to reinforce her faith in what God was doing in her life. As further confirmation of everything the angel Gabriel had told her, when Mary’s voice reached Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s baby lept in her womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave Elizabeth the revelation that Mary was pregnant with the savior and she responded by offering a blessing for Mary and her unborn child.
But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. (Luke 1:43-45; 56) Elizabeth questioned why she had received the favor of Mary coming to bring the Lord into her presence (normally a King’s subject would come to them, not the other way around). Elizabeth calls Mary blessed because Mary believed God’s promises to her. Then Elizabeth and Mary, each miraculously blessed with a supernatural pregnancy, stayed together for the next 3 months, until Mary returned home.
Both Mary and Elizabeth were blessed because they believed God’s promises for their lives. Both were in circumstances where no one (not even them) would have anticipated that they could be come pregnant. Mary was a virgin who had never been with a man. Elizabeth was childless, barren and beyond her child bearing years. Yet God chose each of them for a supernatural blessing that would also bless not only them, but the world. Those blessings began with the word of God and His promises to Mary and Elizabeth. And the were blessed because of their belief that with God nothing is impossible. The season of Advent is a time of hope, peace, joy and love for the Christian believer. But it is also a time of anticipation and expectancy. Jesus has promised that He will return and we believe Him. Just like a Mother who is expecting the birth of her child, we look forward to that day when our Lord will come. What has God promised for your life? Are you believing Him and His power to do what He said He would do? Are you praising God even before the promise is physically manifested? For Mary and Elizabeth’s stories demonstrate to us… that God is faithful to His promises and He blesses those who look to Him with an expectant faith!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
