PODCAST
Two Who Believed
December 4th, 2012
Luke 1:39-45
Yesterday I watched two-year-old Lucca and his dad at the swimming pool. The little boy would stand on the edge and leap as far as he could into water way over his head. After every jump, he said, “Let’s do it again.” Lucca had total trust that his dad would catch him–every time.
Lucca’s trust reflects, in miniature, the kind of faith that Mary and Elizabeth lived. Both ladies totally believed that their pregnancies were direct acts of God’s will and mercy. One was with child way too young, the other way too old. But believe they did. Elizabeth and Mary bolstered each other’s faith.
And what a faith it was! Who would believe that a Galilean virgin from Nazareth and an aging priest’s wife from the “hill country” would be bearing sons that would change the world? Elizabeth and Mary had faith beyond all reason. But both those baby boys, John and Jesus, grew up to fill prophetic and redemptive roles that changed time and eternity.
The faith of Lucca, Mary, and Elizabeth tell me that I should cling in faith to the promises of God.
Author: Wesley Tracy
December 4th, 2012 at 3:02 am
In Ecclesiastes 4:12, a cord of three stands is not easily broken; thus, Mary and Elizabeth’s friendship was bound by the Holy Spirit (Mary in Matthew 1:20 and Elizabeth in Luke 1:41) for support. The Holy Spirit in each testified to the other (Romans 8:16).
When we hear that God doesn’t put anything on us that we can’t bear, He supplies us with that support through the Holy Spirit. It is made tolerable by patiently waiting, abiding in Him, and hearing testimony from others who likewise believe. We just have to lean not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) which is hard for our flesh.
December 4th, 2012 at 7:04 am
My friend Eric shared last Sunday in our Sunday School class that John was filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb. He knew that his saviour had entered the room and he jumped with joy.
We need to jump with joy in the Spirit today ourselves becuase our saviour has entered our lives. We also need to realize that our children and grandchildren can be filled with the Holy Spirit from an early age and do not have to be drawn away by this world.
December 4th, 2012 at 7:46 am
Hebrews 11:1 says that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. I think that is why Jesus tells us that we must have a child like faith. Children can believe in anything. It’s why so many at this time of year write letters to a character that lives at the north pole. It is also why so many believe in Jesus at an early age. But it takes building that faith so that when they lose the illusion of childhood they still believe in Jesus and decide to follow Him for the rest of their years.
December 4th, 2012 at 10:10 am
Tonya, I loved your illustration of “Santa Claus.” It is very timely! When a child learns that Santa is a fictional character (of whom they’ve seen many “look-a-likes”) how can they remain faithful to an invisible God?
Having grandchildren, hearing that they can be filled with the Holy Spirit from an early age tickled my ears. However, upon pondering, the word “filled” might be the issue.
Is Christianity like being pregnant – either we are or aren’t?
Some churches don’t accept that a child can truly believe until they reach the age of accountability. Technically, there are babes in Christ that don’t spiritually mature (even though they are over 18 year of age).
Parents have to train a child in the way he/she should go (Proverbs 22:5) and that training usually stops when we leave home (mostly because of listening problems).
We always have freedom of choice. Children just don’t realize that their immaturity (physically, mentally and spiritually) makes inappropriate choices (not much different from many of us).
Becoming independent must be in our DNA. We have to learn that our independence from God takes us down a destructive path.
December 4th, 2012 at 10:16 am
Correction — Proverbs 22:5 should have been Proverbs 22:6 — Mistakes sure are humbling!
December 5th, 2012 at 9:11 am
“how can they remain faithful to an invisible God? ”
Answering my own question, “We need to not only train them but “show” them that the Bible contains truth when comparing the Bible to the way the world acts and the consequences of those actions.”