Elizabeth in Crazytown

Last week we talked about the crazy path the Lord often calls us to referring to many of the Old Testament stories. How insane it must have been for them to bring their calling to friends and try to convince them that what the Lord had commanded was somehow not completely nuts. How even friends who loved the Lord might have struggled with trusting the validity of this plan. Noah's neighbors for sure thought he was cookoo. Noone was setting up a nursery for old Abraham and Sara. But for Mary, there was Elizabeth. I almost forgot about Elizabeth.

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." Luke 1:41‭-‬45 ESV 

Mary didn't even have to sit down and tell Elizabeth her story. She didn't have to work hard convincing Elizabeth that it was true; that an angel had come to confirm. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit the minute Mary said, "Hello!". She yelled out loud with excitement for the God-ordained Crazytown stuff that was happening to Mary. It is no wonder Mary stayed with her for the next three months because when you have a friend who can sense the Lord's plan in your life, there is no other bond like belief and encouragement.

Man, I hope I am a friend like Elizabeth...filled with the Holy Spirit, believing in the crazy dreams the Lord has called you to, not scoffing or doubting but being excited alongside you. Now, Elizabeth was watching the Holy Spirit actively working in her life. She would have certainly been classified as advanced maternal age, yet here she was carrying a miraculous baby herself. Because of this big thing her Savior was doing in her own life, she had an open heart to believe He could do big things in someone else's.

May this be a lesson to us all...keeping in step with the Holy Spirit in our own lives makes us familiar with Him so we recognize Him in other people's lives. Keep in step with your Savior, friends. Draw near to Him. It may not only be for you.