A LEAP OF JOY
25th Dec 2013
Luke 1:39-45, 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 favoured, 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 what the Lord has said will be accomplished!”
When the real, but as yet invisible presence of Jesus came into contact with Elizabeth’s baby John, “He leapt for joy”. Although he was still in the womb, and about 6 months (24 weeks) “He skipped like a lamb for sheer joy” - not just a tiny flutter! He responded to the immortal, invisible, only wise God, resident in Mary’s womb. Amazing! Awesome!
If you are a Christian believer you too carry this same Jesus Christ in you. Born again in your flesh by the Holy Spirit. So what will be the response of those you come into contact with this Christmastide? Will they experience supernatural joy, love and peace radiating from you, without words, but tangible and powerful? I hope they will!
Years ago we were part of a move of God, where each week we saw young teenagers coming to a living, born again relationship with God. As they shared their stories, and how they had come to faith, they kept saying again and again, “they are so different”, “something has changed them”, “they’re not the same person”. They had seen this same supernatural presence in the other young folk. Hard to put into words - more ‘felt than tell’t’.
So be conscious of who you carry around this Christmas, and pray that others will “skip like a lamb” because you carry Jesus into their presence.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
