12/4- Elizabeth Luke 1

12/4  Luke 1:24-25, 39-45- Elizabeth

24After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” 39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Thoughts: Elizabeth and Zechariah were old enough to remember when Judah was free and independent under the Maccabees.  Zechariah, her husband, was a priest who had the important job of keeping the incense maintained and lit.  Twenty years before the priests held special honor and had a real say in the governing of the land.  But all that was taken away when the Romans (who originally came to help) took over the land.  Yet, Elizabeth never forgot the promises of God, and had hope that Mary’s baby would be the Messiah that would rescue the people somehow.  It is important, in the face of fear, to always believe in the promises of God. The things we have can be stripped away, our titles and our money can disappear, but our focus is never on what we lose, but on the One who will always be with us- Immanuel- God with us- Jesus.

Prayer: May your presence cause me to leap for hope and joy as John did in your presence, Lord.

Activity: Think of someone who is older who needs some cheering up by a child.  Make a card for someone who is older to cheer them.

Song: O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.  Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel!
(p. 88- Glory to God. )