I'm reading Luke chapter 1 this morning and what a blessing it is. The the angel Gabriel is making visits and speaking to people.
He speaks to an old man who is made mute until he makes a faith decision to act in a window of opportunity but he also speaks to a young woman. That young woman didn't have the stubbornness of the old man but none the less the conversation still caused her trouble.
"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.'
And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.'
And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home." - Luke 1:39-56 ESV
Mary made haste to have fellowship with people who could relate to her. She was a pure young girl and her words reflect her purity don't they?
Mary lived for three months in the stubborn mute old man's house.
"Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered,
'No; he shall be called John.' And they said to her, 'None of your relatives is called by this name.'
And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, 'His name is John.'
And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea," - Luke 1:57-65 ESV
That was no ordinary house. God was doing things there.
Perhaps there is a stubborn old man living in your house. Maybe there is one living deep inside you. A mute relegious person who goes through the motions of serving in the temple but is hesitant to walk by faith.
God may just put a piece of paper in front of you today. What will you write on it?
Or maybe it is Mary that you relate to more in this season of life. You have vision that has yet to be born but the trouble has already begun. Fellowship is what you need. Time with people a little farther along the path.
This morning my soul magnifies the Lord.
I read the words of the account of these people's lives and it is like cold water splashed on my face. It awakens me and cleanses my thinking.
He sent us a Savior and it turned our lives topsy turvey. Thank God He did. We need to get things shaken up so that reality will come into focus.
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