The Babies Respond, Too

Luke 1:39-45

"And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost."

How do you respond to the presence of the Lord? Do you rejoice in His salvation, or do you slough it off and go your own way? God calls sinners to turn from their sins and follow Him. As they respond to His call, lives will be changed, and God will use them in great ways. We already saw how Mary had responded to God's call to bring the Savior into the world, and we saw the glorious results as she and many others throughout history were saved from their sins as they trusted in Him.

Mary went to visit Elisabeth, and when she came in and greeted her, Elisabeth's baby (John the Baptist) leaped in her womb, and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. John responded to the presence of the Lord—even though he wasn't even born yet! It's like he was rejoicing when he leaped in the womb. Elisabeth recognized this and also rejoiced. She exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (v.42) She knew that Mary was blessed—because she had obeyed God's call. “Blessed is she who believed for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (v.45)

Mary had submitted and agreed to bear the gift from the very God that would save her; Jesus was obedient to the Father to seek and save the lost—and die for their sins! John was submitted to God's plan, and grew to be one that turned many hearts back to their God. “...He will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before HIM in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (v.15-17) The life of a Christian is distinctly set apart from the ways of the world. God will use those that respond to His call in great ways. Many people will be touched by the love of God because of one person that responds to the call of God, no matter the cost. You may have a lot of plans for your life, but God has a greater plan. If you lay down your life, surrender all to God, and respond to His call, He will use you to reach the hearts of many that need a Savior.

John didn't live his life, but rather gave all to prepare the way for one far greater—Jesus—and he rejoiced in the opportunity to serve His Savior—even from the womb! Mary, Elisabeth, Jesus, and John all responded to God's call. Will you respond?

Two Babies, Two Nations

Genesis 25:19-34

"And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger."

Isaac pleaded with God for his wife because she had been barren. God had promised Isaac's father to have descendants that would be a great nation, but now just a generation later, Isaac found that his wife could not have children. God heard his prayer and opened her womb so that she conceived twins. The Bible says that the twins struggled with one another inside her womb. With the turmoil inside her, she asked, “If all is well, why am I like this?” (v.22) The Lord told her that there were two nations in her womb. That is why there was such a struggle. There were two manner of people: one would be stronger than the other, and the younger would serve the older. Even before they were born, there was a struggle between these two manner of people.

Today, there are essentially two manner of people. There are people that want God and people that don't. It may seem to you that I am over-simplifying things, because if you look around, there are all sorts of people. But it does really come down to two types: God-seekers and God-rejecters. There will always be a struggle between righteousness and sinfulness. There will always be a struggle between those that love God and those that don't.

There is another struggle that we need to look at today—perhaps one that is more often over-looked, but perhaps more crucial. Rebekah quickly saw that there was a struggle between two manner of people that were inside of her. Now eventually her babies were born, but we all have two nations inside of us that have a constant struggle. I'm talking about the struggle between good and evil, of life and death, and of spirit and flesh. Paul described the struggle with sin and his desire to serve God. “...When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law, but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.” (Romans 7:21-23) He goes on to proclaim that Jesus Christ will rescue him from this body of death. Jesus also made mention of the struggle within: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) There is a struggle between the spirit that wants God and the spirit that does not. In Rebekah's case, God told her that the older would serve the younger. The sin nature is older—we're all born with that. But, praise God! I have been born in the Spirit. God has saved me, and I'm a new person. The righteous nature is definitely younger, and the sin nature doesn't want to give up the birthright, but the older will serve the younger. There may be a struggle with sin and temptation, but as long as I trust in God, the righteous nature will be triumphant! God is able to keep those who trust in Him!