Luke 1:39-56
originally writtien 9/12/07
In this passage Mary leaves her town to go visit Elizabeth. I wonder if she did this in order to give herself some time to tell her intended Joseph or to accept the reality of what path was before her. It mentions that when Elizabeth heard about Mary imminent arrival the baby in her womb jumped for joy. Elizabeth knew that Mary was pregnant as soon as she laid eyes on her. The angel that had spoken to Zechariah's didn’t tell him that Mary would be carrying the Messiah and that we know of the angel didn’t tell Elizabeth this either. I think that she knew because she was a good and faithful servant always listening with her heart to what God was saying to her. Both Elizabeth and Mary accepted what the Lord told them to do without question. We can’t say that we are able to do the same thing. Elizabeth and Mary are together at Elizabeth’s home and it gives Mary the opportunity to sing God’s praises over the path that has been sat down before her. I hope what we learn that even when God ask us to really hard things that we look upon them as a blessing the way Mary did. We need to look at the fact God is asking us to help him complete a task and if you chose to do these blessing will be heaped upon you most of them from the task you are doing. I mean look at it this way God needs you to help him, now he can chose someone else if you refuse him but if you refuse him think about all of the wonders and blessing you will miss out on. The song “Hands and Feet” talks about us doing things for God because we are his children but it also should remind us that God is a part of us. He ask us to do things because when you are his child he gives you a little piece of him and we should use this not only because of the sacrifices he has made for us but also because he loves us and we love him. If you deny God then you deny a piece of yourself. I think that one of the reason sinners have no peace is because they are denying the loving merciful part of themselves that God has placed in us.
Interpretation Now 6/17/10
I wonder now if maybe God sent Mary to visit Elizabeth because Mary needed the encouragement that Elizabeth would easily supply. God must have felt Mary's fear even if she was more than willing to walk the path set before her. God provided Mary with someone who would understand her fears and her hopes, what a wonderful gift that must have been. Sometimes we are to caught up in what is going on to see the support that God has provided. I ask that the next time something happens will you please look around and see the comfort and support God has offered you. God loves us and is always wanting the best for us. He said that we would have trouble in this world, that we would be persecuted but he also promised we wouldn't be alone and doesn't it stand to reason that God would provide support in the form of his other children here on earth. Dear Lord thank you for seeing to our physical and emotional needs. Thank you for providing everything we need. Amen