Luke 1:39-45: a reflection

39Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, 40and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! 45Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

When Mary visits Elizabeth, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, blesses her, above all for believing that God would fulfill his word to her: blessed is she who believed. Blessed is she who believed, Elizabeth says, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord. Mary had received an astonishing promise from God, and had believed it, trusting that God would do what he had said. And Elizabeth, filled with the Spirit, blesses her precisely for this: not only for the honor she was given, but for her faith, her believing that God would fulfill his word to her. The one who believes God's promise is blessed, and will see it fulfilled. This shows the blessedness of believing that God will fulfill his word. Blessed are those who believe that God will fulfill his word. Faith in God's promise is a blessed thing, and God fulfills his word. Trust that God will do what he has said. The one who believes God's promise will see it fulfilled.

Notice what Elizabeth singles out in blessing Mary. Mary had been given a great honor and an astonishing promise: that she would bear the Son of the Most High. And when she came to Elizabeth, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, greeted her with blessing. But notice the particular thing Elizabeth blesses her for: blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of what the Lord has spoken to her. Elizabeth blesses Mary not only for the honor given her, but specifically for her faith, her believing that God would fulfill his word. Mary had heard God's promise and believed it, trusting that God would do what he had said; and this faith is what Elizabeth calls blessed. This holds an encouragement about faith in God's promises. God makes promises to his people, in his word; and the response he seeks is faith, believing that he will fulfill what he has said. To believe God's promise, to trust that he will do what he has said, even when it seems astonishing or beyond our seeing, is a blessed thing, as Mary's faith was called blessed. And such faith is not disappointed: there will be a fulfillment of what God has spoken. The one who believes God's promise will see it fulfilled; God keeps his word to those who trust it. We do well to believe God's promises, trusting that he will fulfill his word, and to know that such faith is blessed. Believe that God will fulfill his word to you; such faith is blessed. Trust God's promises, even when they seem astonishing or beyond your seeing. The one who believes God's promise will see it fulfilled. Take God at his word, and be blessed in believing.

That is worth taking to heart, for those who believe that God will fulfill his word are blessed, and their faith is not disappointed, as Elizabeth blessed Mary for believing. We can doubt God's promises; but Elizabeth blessed Mary for believing that God would fulfill his word to her. Believe his word. Do not doubt God's promises; believe that he will fulfill his word to you, as Mary did, and know that such faith is blessed and will see its fulfillment. Believe that God will fulfill his word to you, trusting his promises even when they seem astonishing, and know that such faith is blessed and will see its fulfillment, as when Mary visited Elizabeth, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, blessed her above all for believing that God would fulfill his word, saying blessed is she who believed for there would be a fulfillment of the things spoken to her from the Lord; for Mary had received an astonishing promise and believed it, trusting that God would do what he had said, and Elizabeth blesses her precisely for this, not only for the honor given her but for her faith in believing that God would fulfill his word, so that the one who believes God's promise is blessed and will see it fulfilled, which holds an encouragement about faith in God's promises, since God makes promises to his people in his word and the response he seeks is faith, believing that he will fulfill what he has said, and to believe God's promise and trust that he will do what he has said even when it seems astonishing or beyond our seeing is a blessed thing as Mary's faith was called blessed, and such faith is not disappointed since there will be a fulfillment of what God has spoken, the one who believes his promise seeing it fulfilled and God keeping his word to those who trust it, so that we do well to believe God's promises and trust that he will fulfill his word.

Lord, when Mary visits Elizabeth, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, blesses her, above all for believing that you would fulfill your word to her: blessed is she who believed. Blessed is she who believed, Elizabeth says, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord. Mary had received an astonishing promise from you, and had believed it, trusting that you would do what you had said. And Elizabeth, filled with the Spirit, blesses her precisely for this: not only for the honor she was given, but for her faith, her believing that you would fulfill your word to her. The one who believes your promise is blessed, and will see it fulfilled. Show me what Elizabeth singles out in blessing Mary. Mary had been given a great honor and an astonishing promise. And when she came to Elizabeth, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, greeted her with blessing. But notice the particular thing Elizabeth blesses her for: blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of what the Lord has spoken to her. Elizabeth blesses Mary not only for the honor given her, but specifically for her faith, her believing that you would fulfill your word. Mary had heard your promise and believed it; and this faith is what Elizabeth calls blessed. This holds an encouragement about faith in your promises. You make promises to your people, in your word; and the response you seek is faith, believing that you will fulfill what you have said. To believe your promise, to trust that you will do what you have said, even when it seems astonishing or beyond my seeing, is a blessed thing. And such faith is not disappointed: there will be a fulfillment of what you have spoken. The one who believes your promise will see it fulfilled; you keep your word to those who trust it. Take that to my heart. Keep me from doubting your promises; help me believe that you will fulfill your word to me, Lord, as Mary did, trusting your promises even when they seem astonishing or beyond my seeing, and know that such faith is blessed and will see its fulfillment, for you keep your word to those who trust it.