Christmas
Check out all the previous Rest readings here.
Christmas Reading Plan | Week 2 Day 2
Prayer
Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body. Thank God for time to spend with Him and ask Him to meet with you.
Bible Reading: Luke 1:39-45
Read these verses three times slowly.
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! 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!”
Reflection & Questions
This meeting of Mary and Elizabeth is quite remarkable. Two pregnant women. One too old to have children. One a virgin. Both visited by the angel Gabriel. Both giving birth to special sons. We get just a glimpse of their conversation and it is one of pure joy. Mary had “hurried” to see her cousin Elizabeth. She couldn’t wait to tell her the news. But even before Mary could blurt it out, the Holy Spirit had opened Elizabeth’s eyes and Elizabeth knew that Mary was pregnant and that she was “the mother of my Lord.” Even John the Baptist, at this point still warm and cozy in Elizabeth’s womb, senses Jesus’ presence and leaps for joy. These are some of the most remarkable moments in the history of the world as these women sit down to drink tea and discuss what has happened to them. But as remarkable as these moments are, they are rooted in belief in the God who is at work. As Elizabeth says, “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises.” Crossroads, we have a God who is at work. The same God who was working the lives of Mary and Elizabeth, is that same God who is at work now. While we don’t always see it or feel it, He is powerful to save and a mighty fortress that we can trust in. Let’s keep believing and trusting in Him.
- imagine being a fly on the wall watching this conversation between Mary and Elizabeth happen. What else do you think might have been said?
- How confident are you that God will fulfill what he has promised? How does that affect your attitude to what is going on in your life right now?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
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Questions?
Ed Applegate
