Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Luke

Luke 
Day 
Day 20

Luke 1:39-45 "A PRACTICAL RESPONSE TO THE WORD OF THE LORD"

Day 20 – Luke 1

Text: Luke 1:39-45

A PRACTICAL RESPONSE TO THE WORD OF THE LORD

Did Mary really believe that she had a visit from an angel? The best answer is to look at the response she made after the angel Gabriel departed from her.

We read, “Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth” (Luke 1:39). The angel Gabriel had told her that Elizabeth was expecting. She was a relative, and her inability to have children was well known to all her relatives! Mary herself was told that she would have a child, none other than the long-expected Messiah, none other than the Son of God! How can one receive such a message and not respond to it?

A SPECIAL FRIEND WITH WHOM ONE CAN SHARE SPIRITUAL THINGS

With whom could Mary share this knowledge? How about her parents? How about Joseph? However, social customs in those days would not allow for very much interaction between betrothed couples. One never quite knows how a marriage relationship would work out, because of a lack of in-depth relationship.

This message from the angel was special and sacred. Mary must have borne in mind what the angel Gabriel had said. Elizabeth was expecting. She too had just experienced a miracle! She was also well known for her righteous life style. Surely she would be spiritual enough to understand her when she shares her good news!

How wonderful it is to have at least one special, spiritual friend with whom deep spiritual experiences can be shared. Thank God for such special friends. They are special gifts from God!

“FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT” Luke 1:41

Mary was told that the Spirit of God would come upon her (Luke 1:35). Zacharias was also told that her son, John would be “filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15). Since Elizabeth was already noted for her righteous lifestyle (Luke 1:6), it would not be wrong to conclude that she too was filled with the Holy Spirit. We are in fact specifically told that she was indeed filled with the Holy Spirit, and thus when Mary stepped into her house, immediately she burst forth with a special word of greeting for her!

What happens when two Spirit-filled women get together? What happens when two people with similar experiences have an opportunity to share deep spiritual blessings?

A TRULY GOD-BLESSED TIME OF FELLOWSHIP

In good and godly fellowship with each other, and where the Holy Spirit is involved, we would see the following things highlighted:-

1. The Lord’s Name will be mentioned! His Name will evoke praise! (” I will bless the Lord, at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth…”) Ps. 34:1

2. There will be good and wholesome words spoken! The older woman, Elizabeth was not the least bit jealous of Mary, a much younger person. There was only praise, joy, thanksgiving in her heart. She was rejoicing with Mary, and happy for her that she was chosen to play the role of mother for the Baby Jesus.

3. There is deep humility as well. Elizabeth was so conscious of the Lord and who He was! She who was chosen to bear the Messiah must also be given due respect and honour. Thus her words of praise, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:42,43)

4. There is spiritual insight given by the Holy Spirit who reveals precious truths! Elizabeth was able to recognize the identity of the Son Mary was going to deliver one day. She called Him, “My Lord” (Luke 1:43)!

5. There will always be words of great encouragement exchanged! Elizabeth was happy that Mary had faith in her heart, and thus she had believed the words of the angel Gabriel. “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be fulfillment (Cf.Luke 1:1 “fulfilled”) of those things which were told her from the Lord” Luke 1:45

IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH EACH OTHER

Do you think the quality of our fellowship with each other could be improved significantly? Let’s pray and work at improving the quality of our conversations with each other whenever we have fellowship together. Let’s emulate the example of the fellowship between Elizabeth.

Let us seek to be conscious of what the Apostle John wrote in 1 John.


“That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ”
1 John 1:3

Let us be conscious of what the Lord is doing in our life. Let us share what the Lord is doing in our hearts. Let’s ask the Lord to help us to consciously improve the quality of our fellowship with each other in the Lord.