I love what Elizabeth said to Mary when the baby leaped in her womb at the sound of Mary's voice and she was filled the Holy Spirit: "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord will fulfill his promises to her!" (Luke 1:45)
What a wonderful thing to meditate on today--the truth that God keeps His promises! At the core of God's promises is God Himself, and God is love. However, for now we live in a broken world, so it is necessary to receive the promises by faith. But with faith comes the blessing of joy.
Mary was told not to be afraid when the angel came to her with the message that she had been chosen to conceive and give birth to a son. In answer to her question of, "How can this be, since I'm a virgin?" The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). It was important that Mary believe since the angel didn't make a public announcement. She needed to believe the promise to receive the blessing of joy.
It was important that Mary believe that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her and not to be afraid as the events that led up to this child's birth unfolded. I wonder if she heard the great mourning and the weeping of the mothers in Bethlehem as Herod attempted to destroy the promised messiah. Blessings come only when we anchor our hearts in what we believe and not the things we see or experience.
"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord will fulfill his promises to her!" This has been a very difficult year for me. However, as I sit here on Christmas Eve reviewing the promises I have received from God, I count myself as one who is blessed. Jesus promised that whoever believed in Him would have eternal life. He promised abundant life--not easy, but abundant. He promised to send the Holy Spirit to abide in those who believe. Jesus said that it was the Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom. I look around and I see great sorrow and grief that the enemies of God have brought to this world, but I still believe the promises.
When the angel came to Mary to announce the first coming of Jesus, he said, "Do not be afraid!" When Jesus was taken up into the heavens, the angels said," Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven" (Acts 1:11) I know that in this world there is tribulation, but I believe the promise that has been given. We have been given a Savior whose name is Jesus, and His kingdom will have no end. There is great joy for those who believe in a God who keeps His promises.
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